TOWSON, Md. (May 22, 2013) – Minot State University junior Jen Dixon (OF/P, Brandon, Manitoba) became the school's first-ever Capital One Academic All-American as she was selected to the NCAA Division II Softball first team Wednesday.

The Capital One Academic All-American team is selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Dixon, a physical education major with a 3.82 GPA, was the top hitter in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and was recently named the Daktronics Central Region Player of the Year. She batted .447 with 17 doubles, six triples and 12 home runs, while driving in 50 runs. She helped Minot State to a 41-11 record – a school record for wins in a season – and the program's first trip to the NCAA National Tournament.

Dixon was joined on the first team by Southwest Minnesota State's Amy Dreessen. Brynn Larsen of Concordia-St. Paul was named to the second team as three players earned the national honor from the NSIC.

Dixon was one of just four juniors selected to the first team as seven seniors rounded out the 11-member first team. Of the 11 players on the first team, three carried a perfect 4.0 GPA with another finishing with a 3.99 GPA. Indianapolis' Jennifer DeMotte and Central Oklahoma's Kacie Edwards were the only repeat first-team selections from 2012.

To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.