NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Senior special teams stalwart Mike Anello and senior offensive guard Chris Stewart were each named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for District 5 on Thursday.

Anello (Orland Park, Ill.) and Stewart (Spring, Texas), each of whom graduated in 3.5 years and currently take graduate level courses, now get placed on the national ballot for the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America Team.

Anello, who was named Academic All-America second team last year, earned a degree from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business in finance. He finished his undergraduate work with a 3.93 cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Anello earned dean’s list recognition in each of his seven semesters at Notre Dame. He registered a perfect 4.0 GPA in his major courses and was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the business honors society.

Anello ranks eighth on the Irish in total special teams tackles (five) and tied for sixth in kickoff return tackles (five) this season.

Anello was also named one of 10 finalists for the Awards and Recognition Association (ARA) Sportsmanship Award.

The ARA Sportsmanship Award is presented annually to an NCAA Division I college football player who exemplifies sportsmanship both on and off the field. The selection of the winner is made by a blue-ribbon panel comprised of retired coaches, ARA executives and members of the media who cover college sports.

Stewart earned a degree from the College of Arts and Letters in history. He finished his undergraduate studies with a 3.536 cumulative GPA. Stewart registered a 3.834 GPA in his final semester (`09 spring).

Stewart has started 18 career games for Notre Dame on the offensive line, including all eight games this season at left guard. He has been a key reason for the improved Irish running attack. Notre Dame is averaging 147.9 yards per game on the ground this season – a huge improvement from the past two years when the Irish managed just 75.2 (2007) and 109.7 (2008) yards rushing per game.

During his undergraduate coursework, Stewart had the opportunity to learn about Haiti and the diseases that affect it. Over the ’09 spring break, he was given the chance to visit the country and see firsthand Notre Dame’s Haiti Program.

During his weeklong visit, Stewart conducted research, learned the logistics of the program and toured facilities geared toward eradicating lymphatic filariasis – a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like worms. The disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, can cause swelling and decreased function of the lymph system, making it difficult for the body to fight germs and infections.