America East Release

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The University of Vermont has been awarded the America East Academic Cup for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year, the conference office made the announcement today. UVM student-athletes achieved a 3.14 cumulative grade-point average during the 2008-09 year. It ties the highest grade-point average in the 14-year history of the award, which the Catamounts set during the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2007-08 academic years.

Vermont is the only school in America East to have won the Academic Cup five straight years (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and has a total of six Academic Cups after winning the inaugural award in 1996.

"We are very proud of the manner in which UVM student-athletes conduct themselves as competitors, as citizens of our community, and as scholars. They continue to demonstrate the highest ideals of intercollegiate athletics and are to be congratulated for another exceptional year in the classroom, and on the field of play," said Dr. Robert Corran, UVM's Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics.

"Congratulations and sincere thanks are also extended to UVM's coaches, faculty and academic support staff who each provide outstanding leadership, guidance, and encouragement to our student-athletes. In the truest sense, this is the ultimate 'team' award and we're very proud to have won it for a fifth consecutive time."

Binghamton was two-hundredths behind Vermont with a 3.12 GPA and was followed by Stony Brook - 3.09; Boston U - 3.08; Maine – 3.06; New Hampshire – 3.05; Albany – 2.90; and UMBC – 2.82.

The Hartford women’s golf team posted the highest team GPA (3.54) of any America East squad. The Vermont field hockey (3.50 GPA), women's soccer (3.39 GPA), men's indoor track and field (3.18 GPA) and men's outdoor track and field (3.16 GPA) teams were all league leaders in their respective sports among the conference members. A total of 12 of Vermont's 16 teams that compete in America East earned GPA's of 3.0 or better this season.

Vermont also boasts two America East Scholar-Athletes thus far this season in Connor Tobin (men’s soccer) and Kim Striegler (field hockey). The league office will announce the winter/spring scholar-athletes next week. Additionally, a total of 312 Catamount student-athletes were named to the America East Fall/Winter/Spring Academic Honor Rolls during the 2007-08 season.

Overall, UVM student-athletes combined to earn a 3.20 grade point average for the spring semester of 2009 (including men's and women's hockey and men's and women's skiing which do not compete in America East). It is the highest GPA the athletic department has ever achieved and marked the 14th consecutive semester UVM student-athletes have earned a 3.0 GPA or better.

Also, a school-record seven Catamounts earned CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I honors this season and two, Connor Tobin (men's soccer) and Juergen Uhl (Nordic skiing), were named national Academic All-Americans.

The Academic Cup, established by the America East Board of Directors during the 1995-96 season, is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point averages during that academic year.

More than 3,200 student-athletes competed at nine America East institutions in the 2008-09 season. The conference’s student-athletes compiled an average of 3.05 on the team grade-point averages, which were calculated by dividing the total team quality points by the total credits completed for grade. The overall institutional GPAs were calculated using the same formula for all student-athletes at each respective school.

America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the Academic Cup, an All-Academic team comprised of student-athletes that excel both academically and athletically is chosen in each of the conference’s 21 sports by a committee consisting of faculty athletic representatives, academic advisors and sports information directors. Additionally, a scholar-athlete, someone who distinguishes themselves as the top student-athlete in his/her sport, is awarded. From that group, one male and one female is selected the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Finally, the conference recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll with those achieving a 3.5 average or better receiving Commissioner’s Honor Roll status.