SALEM, OR Senior Tim Alton, a Bearcat defensive back from Oregon City, has been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American team.

Alton, along with Willamette running back Kevin Dean, was earlier named to the District 8 Academic All-American squad. This honor for Alton is for the entire nation.

Alton, who carries a 3.96 GPA in chemistry (biochemistry), was the Bearcats top defensive back this past season, ranking among the conference leaders in tackles for defensive backs. Alton also had an interception and a fumble recovery as he helped the Bearcats to a 4-1 conference record, 5-4 overall.

The Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America; a 2,000-member organization consisted of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 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 programs inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.