America East Commissioner Patrick Nero presented the University of Vermont with the America East Academic Cup, given annually to the institution whose student-athletes produce the highest grade point average among the league's nine teams, on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at halftime of the women’s basketball game against Louisville.

In addition to the awards ceremony, fans in attendance at the game were treated to a much-anticipated contest against the highly touted Lady Cardinals and their star player Angel McCoughtry, who leads the nation in scoring at 26.2 points per game. Louisville (6-2) is ranked 34th in the nation based on votes in the most recent Associated Press poll.

Winning the America East Academic Cup makes UVM, whose student-athletes maintained a 3.07 grade-point average, the first institution to win the award four times (1996, 2005, 2006, 2007) including a current streak of three straight. For the first time in conference history two member institutions shared the award as the Catamounts tied with Maine. Binghamton University (3.06), Stony Brook University (3.03) and University of New Hampshire (3.03) were other institutions to compile grade-point averages of 3.00 or better in 2006-07.

"This is a very special honor for our student-athletes and university. It reflects a firm and ongoing commitment to the mission of the university and the values of educational sport," said UVM Athletic Director Robert Corran.

Vermont fielded teams in 16 of the 22 sports sponsored by the conference during the 2006-07 academic year and saw 12 of those teams post grade-point averages of 3.0 or better. The Catamounts had a pair of sport leaders: men's cross country (3.36) and women's indoor track and field (3.26). The spring '07 semester was particularly strong for UVM student-athletes as they combined to earn a 3.13 grade point average, marking the 10th consecutive semester of earning a 3.0 GPA or better.