Valparaiso University Athletic Teams Recognized for Outstanding Academic Performance

Six athletic teams from Valparaiso University have received the NCAA Public Recognition Award for outstanding academic performance.

The NCAA announced that the softball, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf, and women’s indoor and outdoor track teams each received the honor. All six squads were repeat award recipients, while the softball program earned the Public Recognition Award for a fifth straight season.

“We are excited that our student-athletes once again have demonstrated an outstanding commitment not just to their efforts on the playing fields, but also in the classroom,” Valparaiso University Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera stated. “We are very proud that year in and year out that they are succeeding as both students and athletes.”

The award is presented to teams that have an NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate in the top 10 percent of all teams in their respective sport. The calculation of APR tracks the academic progress of each student-athlete and includes eligibility, retention, and graduation.

With six teams honored, Valpo leads all current Horizon League member institutions.

The awards continue to highlight the success that Valpo student-athletes achieve in the classroom. In April, 121 student-athletes received Presidential Academic Honors in recognition of earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher after at least three semesters at Valpo. Last November, an NCAA report showed that 80 percent of Valpo’s student-athletes graduated within six years of enrollment and that they had a Graduation Success Rate of 94 percent, ranking highest among Horizon League members in both metrics.