The student-athletes at the University of Vermont continue to excel in the classroom. They combined to earn a 3.20 grade point average for the spring semester of 2009. It is the highest GPA the athletic department has ever achieved and marks the 14th consecutive semester the UVM athletic department has earned a 3.0 GPA or better.

Vermont, which has won four straight America East Academic Cups (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), had 14 teams earn GPA's of 3.0 or better this spring. The women's teams combined to post a 3.317 GPA, while the men's teams were not far behind, registering a 3.039 GPA.

The men's ski team and field hockey team took top honors among all Vermont teams. The men's ski team posted a GPA of 3.370, while the field hockey squad had a department best 3.539 team GPA.

In addition, the Vermont field hockey, men's hockey and softball teams were honored among the top 10 percent in their respective sports nationally in the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR).

The teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent (scores between 976 to a perfect 1,000) of all squads in their respective sports. The public recognition awards are part of the broad Division I academic reform effort. Overall, over 800 athletic programs representing 331 Division I schools were recognized.

“We are very proud of the academic accomplishments of all UVM teams, and particularly these three, who have distinguished themselves being among the very best in the nation,” said Dr. Robert Corran, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics at Vermont.

The APR was established by the NCAA to measure the success or failure of collegiate athletic teams in moving student-athletes towards graduation. It was first instituted in February of 2005.

The men's hockey team was the only Hockey East school and the only team in the 2009 Frozen Four to achieve recognition. The Catamounts went 22-12-5 (15-8-4 HEA) in 2008-09 to post a fifth straight winning season for the first time since moving to the Division I level in 1974-75. The 22 wins were the most since 1996-97, the last time UVM reached the NCAA Tournament prior to this season.

Vermont completed the year with a 5-4 loss to eventual national champion Boston University in the national semifinals. Despite the loss to the Terriers in the Frozen Four, the Catamounts were the only team to beat Boston U twice this season. Vermont went a combined 3-2-1 against Boston U and Miami, the two teams that played in the 2009 NCAA title game.

UVM finished the 2008-09 season ranked third in the final USA Today/USA Hockey Poll. It is the highest final ranking in program history for the Catamounts.

The field hockey team posted a record of 9-9 overall, which included wins over nationally ranked Providence and Ohio State. The Catamounts boasted four student-athletes on the 2008 America East Field Hockey All-Academic Team and four student-athletes on the league's all-conference team. The Catamounts earned four of the 11 spots on the team, most by any other conference squad.

Over 70 student-athletes participated in UVM's 205th graduation ceremony on May 17. The respective colleges and departments at the University honored several student-athletes. Below is a listing of what was reported to the athletic department:

Three student-athletes: Sarah Madey (School of Business) of the women's basketball team; Mike Trimboli (College of Arts & Sciences) of the men's basketball team and Eric Carter (College of Nursing and Health Sciences) of the ski team earned the honor of carrying the banner for their respective colleges.

Women's lacrosse standout Kristen Millar was also honored during the commencement ceremony. She was the female recipient of the Class of 1967 Award, presented to seniors who best exhibit leadership, academic competence and character, and who have earned the respect of faculty and fellow students.

Other honors earned by UVM student-athletes:
Wendy Carbone (Field Hockey)
Recreation Management Academic Achievement Award

Tom Cheney (Cross Country)
Phi Beta Kappa
Golden Key International Honour Society
Political Science Department Honors
Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society
Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society for Sociology
Vermont Scholar

Susie Crilli (Women's Soccer)
Golden Key International Honour Society

Danielle Cloutier-Simons (Cross Country)
Golden Key International Honour Society
Beta Beta Beta National Honor Society for biology
Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society
Vermont Scholar

Jordan Crasilneck (Men's Soccer)
Community Development & Applied Economics Teaching Assistant Award

Kaitlin Francis (Women's Soccer)
Pizzagalli Vermont Scholar
Recreation Management Student Achievement Award

Katrina Howe (Nordic Skiing)
Leadership in Athletic Training Award

Colin Lyons (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Lamda Alpha National Honor Society for anthropology

Molly MacMillian (Swimming & Diving)
Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society

Jake McFadden (Men's Soccer)
Lucille P. Markey Outstanding Senior in Molecular Genetics Award
Vermont Scholar

Sarah Madey (Women's Basketball)
Alpha Delta Chapter of Triota National Honor Society Women's and Gender Studies
Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society for Business Management
Undergraduate Excellence Award from the School of Business
Edwin C. Greif Marketing Award
Vermont Scholar

Erin Pichiotino (Women's Soccer)
Golden Key International Honour Society
Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society
Vermont Scholar

Jill Rademacher (Women's Basketball)
Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society

Mary Stewart (Nordic Skiing)
Honors College Scholar
Mortar Board
Community Service Scholar
English Department Honors

Annie Strout (Women's Lacrosse)
Honors College Scholar
Golden Key International Honour Society
Political Science Department Honors
Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society

Connor Tobin (Men's Soccer)
Boulder Society
Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society

Juergen Uhl (Nordic Skiing)
Edmund F. Little (Senior) Award in Mechanical Engineering
Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society

The following is a list of student-athletes who graduated with honors:
Jen Angers (Field Hockey) – cum laude, College of Education and Social Services
Wendy Carbone (Field Hockey) – cum laude, Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources
Susie Cirlli (Women's Soccer) – summa cum laude, College of Education and Social Services
Jake McFadden (Men's Soccer) – cum laude, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Sarah Madey (Women's Basketball) – summa cum laude, School of Business Administration
Megan Maynard (Field Hockey) – magna cum laude, College of Education and Social Services
Diana Purtz (Cross Country) – cum laude, College of Arts & Sciences
Amy Rosenkrantz (Women's Basketball) – cum laude, School of Business Administration
Mary Stewart (Nordic Skiing) – magna cum laude, College of Arts & Sciences
Juergen Uhl (Nordic Skiing) – magna cum laude, College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences