NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State placed a record 312 student-athletes on the AFNI Honor Roll and tied its athletics department grade-point average (GPA) record, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Academics and Life Skills Dr. Paul Downey announced Wednesday.
Illinois State student-athletes combined to post a 3.23 combined GPA during the fall semester, matching the record mark set during the spring semester. With 312 student-athletes earning a GPA of 3.0 or higher, the athletics department broke the previous record of AFNI Honor Roll selections (301, Fall 2014).
"Our student-athletes continue to make strides in the classroom," Downey said. "You never know what you'll see from our freshmen student-athletes as they are transitioning to the university environment, but matching our record from the Spring 2016 semester indicates that a culture of academic success is being built here through responsibility and preparation.
"I appreciate the support and collaboration among our coaching staff, compliance office, academic advisors and Athletic Study Center staff. Further, we are fortunate to have an incentive such as the AFNI Honor Roll to inspire our student-athletes to achieve academically and athletically."
Illinois State's men's tennis and women's golf team claimed the team GPA titles, with marks of 3.58 and 3.70, respectively. As a whole, male student-athletes set a departmental GPA record with a 3.06 combined GPA, across seven sports.
The gymnastics and volleyball teams set new program records, with GPAs of 3.69 and 3.68, respectively, as did the Redbird baseball team, which turned in a mark of 3.28. The Illinois State football team set a new in-season record with a 2.93 GPA.
Additionally, four teams placed their entire rosters on the AFNI Honor Roll: men's tennis, women's golf, gymnastics and women's tennis.
Student-athletes named to the AFNI Honor Roll will be recognized during a halftime ceremony at tonight's men's basketball game versus Indiana State, at 7 p.m. on Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena.
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