UAM Student-Athletes Excel in the Classroom

Courtesy UAM Athletics Department

Members of five different UAM athletic teams were recently inducted to the University’s Alpha Chi Honor Society, an organization recognizing the top 10 percent of students in their junior or senior years who have exceled in their chosen academic field. Front Row (Left to Right): Beth Johnson (Softball), Brittany Eitel (Softball), Meagan Peters (Volleyball) and Summer Huddleston (Softball). Back Row (Left to Right): Kody Coleman (Football), Blake Washington (Football), Sam Cason (Baseball) and Ryan Reyes (Baseball). Not pictured is Candace Virgadamo (Basketball).

MONTICELLO — One hundred seven student-athletes at the University of Arkansas at Monticello reported grade point averages of 3.0 or better during the just-completed fall semester, according to Chris Ratcliff, director of athletics.

That number represents 44.4 percent of UAM’s 241 student-athletes. Of the 107 who posted GPA’s of 3.0 or better, 16 had perfect grade points of 4.0, another 35 posted GPA’s of 3.5 to 3.99, 27 had grade points of 3.25 to 3.49, and 29 had GPA’s of 3.0 to 3.24.

“I want to commend every member of our athletic staff for the progress we are making in improving the individual academic standing of all our student-athletes,” said UAM Provost Jimmie Yeiser. “The results of their efforts and the efforts of our student-athletes are outstanding. We are committed as an institution to being the best we can be both on the playing field and in the classroom.”

The overall grade point average for UAM student-athletes during the 2012 fall semester was 2.579. All five women’s teams – volleyball, cross country, basketball, softball, and golf – posted GPA’s exceeding 3.0, led by softball, with a team GPA of 3.499. Women’s golf was next with a team GPA of 3.223, followed by volleyball at 3.194, cross country at 3.030, and basketball at 3.018. Overall, UAM’s female athletes posted a combined GPA of 3.237.

The five men’s teams – football, basketball, cross country, baseball, and golf – compiled an overall GPA of 2.370. The overall GPA’s of the men’s teams were 3.062 (golf), 2.879 (baseball), 2.637 (cross country), 2.147 (basketball), and 2.134 (football).

“While I continue to be pleased with the academic performance of our student-athletes, we will continue to encourage these young men and women to excel in the classroom as well as play an active role in the community,” said Ratcliff. “I am particularly pleased with the work of our football team, which completed more than 1,300 hours of community service during the fall semester. We’re working very hard to establish a strong connection between the community and our athletics programs. By excelling in the classroom and reaching out to the community, we are sending a positive message to our alumni and friends that this is a program worth supporting.”