CLEVELAND - The Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) announced the 2024-25 recipients of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 18th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level in NCAA sponsored sports.
For the first time since inception, there were more than 20,000 student-athletes recognized (22,756) from a record 202 institutions for the 2024-25 Academic Achievement Awards. This year's totals are the highest in the program's history.
Historically, 190,032 total student-athletes have been recognized since the inception of the awards program.
This year, the Pennsylvania State Atlantic Conference (PSAC) takes home the top spot with the largest number of student-athlete honorees with 2,051 total. The following conferences have more than 1,000 student athletes being recognized:
• Conference Carolinas – 1177
• Great Lakes Valley Conference – 1360
• Great Midwest Athletic Conference – 1169
• Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association – 1316
• Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference – 1743
• Pacific West Conference - 1272
• South Atlantic Conference - 1755
• Sunshine State Conference - 1525
"Since its inception, this program has been dedicated to celebrating the exceptional student-athletes who define excellence across our Division II landscape," said Traci Murphy, vice president for athletics at Daemen University and current D2 ADA President. "This year, we are thrilled to recognize a record number of deserving individuals, reflecting the unprecedented dedication within our division - not only in athletics, but in the classroom as well. This year's record-breaking submissions for both individuals and schools serve as a testament to the Division II way. Thanks to the administrators that nominated these outstanding individuals, and much-deserved congratulations to our 22,000-plus recipients."
In addition to the conferences, 14 institutions will recognize more than 200-plus student-athletes with this recognition on their individual campus:
• Tiffin University (GMAC) –300
• Colorado Mesa University (RMAC) – 280
• East Stroudsburg University (PSAC) - 242
• Florida Southern College (SSC) – 241
• University of Findlay (GMAC) - 241
• Augustana University (NSIC) - 225
• McKendree University (GLVC) – 219
• Bentley University (NE-10) – 212
• Rockhurst University (GLVC) – 212• University of Sioux Falls (NSIC) – 211
• Slippery Rock University (PSAC) – 209
• Seton Hill University (PSAC) – 208
• Catawba College (SAC) – 207
• Emmanuel University (CC) - 201
To qualify for this honor, the following must occur:
• The AD MUST BE a CURRENT dues-paying member of the D2 ADA.
• Student-athlete must have …
o a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
o have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work
o have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year
The CIAA had a total of 374 student-athletes recognized including students from Bluefield State, Bowie State, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Lincoln University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University.
WSSU had 63 student-athletes get recognized.
