Fairfield, CT -- The Sacred Heart University 31-sport athletics program capped the 2011-12 season by recording its highest semester grade point average this past spring with a combined 3.23. Heading into their 13th season on the Division I level, the Pioneers continue to establish Sacred Heart University as champions and leaders on the playing field, within the community and in the classroom.
“As proud as we are that the program won its fifth consecutive Brenda Weare Northeast Conference Commissioners Cup, as well the NEC’s second consecutive ‘Building Communities Award’, there’s nothing more telling about the quality and maturity of our student-athletes as achieving high grades in the classroom,” commented Sacred Heart Executive Director of Athletics.
In the classroom this season, SHU student-athletes posted a combined 3.19 grade point average. In posting the highest ever semester gpa this spring (3.23), the women’s teams combined for a 3.30 gpa and the men’s teams posted a combined 3.17 gpa.
The NEC Champion bowling team posted the highest grade point average this spring at 3.58. The women’s golf program was on their heels at 3.57 for the spring and finished the season as the team with the highest overall gpa at 3.49. On the men’s side, the men’s ice hockey team posted the highest grade point average for the year at 3.17. For the first time in program history, the Sacred Heart football program posted a gpa of 3.00 and finished the year at 2.91.
“I couldn’t be more pleased or impressed with the commitment our student-athletes have made to success in the classroom,” stated Cook. “Even more telling in the spring semester where the program recorded its highest gpa ever, both the men’s and women’s programs were over 3.00 together for the first time. I am especially impressed with the football team with its first ever 3.00 gpa.”
Sacred Heart saw a total of 300 student-athletes named to the Northeast Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2011-12 and a total of 48 student-athletes on the NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll for posting a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. Four student-athletes were named their sports Scholar Athlete of the Year in junior Joshua Salah (men’s golf), senior Callan Taylor (women’s basketball), junior Jacqueline Carbonetto (bowling) and senior Samantha Kee (women’s soccer).
“To achieve such a high GPA with the number of student-athletes we have is incredible,” said Lucy Cox, Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Advising. “We’re not just producing athletes; we are producing people who have a future after graduation.”
“Anytime a university can go out and recruit and say that every team is above 3.0, that is a wonderful thing,” commented Cox.
On the field in 2011-12, Sacred Heart captured NEC Tournament Championships in women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, women’s bowling and baseball. The SHU women's lacrosse and men's soccer team's won their respective NEC regular season championships as well. The Pioneers also finished in the top four in the regular season standings or at NEC championships in 16 different sports.
In the community, Pioneers donated 6,625 hours of community service, the majority of which took place through the “Dunbar School Initiative.” SHU had just over 1,400 more hours of community service then the next closest NEC institution in 2011-12.
“Competitive success that’s matched by success in the community and high grades in the classroom is the perfect trifecta to conclude a most successful year,” stated Cook.