ARKADELPHIA -- Grade-point averages for student-athletes at Henderson State University continue to improve.
The cumulative GPA for students who participate in intercollegiate athletics climbed to 2.96 in the fall semester. It marked the sixth consecutive semester GPAs improved for student-athletes.
"I am extraordinarily proud of the continued progress that our student-athletes are making in the classroom," said Shawn Jones, Henderson's athletic director. "Our coaches are recruiting a group of strong student-athletes who are performing at a high level in the classroom and on the various fields of play.
"Our GPA has continued to increase significantly each semester, and we have still loftier goals to work toward. We couldn't have done this without the help of our President Dr. Glen Jones, Provost Dr. Steve Adkison, an outstanding faculty and staff committed to student success."
Eight teams had a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Henderson has 350 student-athletes.
"All our teams are either over a 3.0 cumulative GPA or are very close to that," Jones said. "Our coaches are working to ensure student-athletes are committed to class and study time as well as to instilling in our student-athletes the importance of becoming future positive contributors to their communities and workplaces."
The fall semester saw 26 student-athletes finished with a 4.0 GPA, 61 had GPAs between 3.5 and 3.99, and 89 had a GPA between 3.0 and 3.49.
The women's swim team scored a cumulative 3.43 GPA, followed by women's basketball at 3.37 and women's tennis with 3.33. Women's softball, cross-country and golf also scored above 3.0.
Men's golf had a 3.08 GPA and men's basketball scored a 3.0.
School on 01/08/2017