news-category: Academics °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ Leads the Pack: 85.90% of University’s Student-Athletes Named to 2024-25 Big South Presidential Honor Roll By Office of University Communications On June 26, 2025 More Than 80% of Big South Student-Athletes Achieved a 3.0 Grade Point Average in 2024-25 BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Big South Conference announced today that student-athletes from °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ are at the head of the class. For the first time ever, °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ Runnin’ Bulldogs led all Big South institutions, as GWU had 85.90% (335) of its 390 eligible student-athletes on the Presidential Honor Roll, and was one of five members to have at least 80 percent of 3.0 students. In addition, 41 °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ student-athletes made the Presidential Honor Roll with a 4.0 Grade Point Average and received the 2024-25 Big South Commissioner’s Award. Interim Vice President and Director of Athletics Chuck Burch praised the student-athletes, their coaches and staff support for their achievements. “I was excited to see such a large percentage of our student-athletes achieving such a high level of academic success,” he asserted. “It’s a testament to their hard work and dedication to their chosen fields of study. I am very appreciative of the emphasis our coaches put on academic achievement and cannot say enough about the work of our Director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Carrie Drake Baker, and her associates as they go above and beyond in their efforts with our student-athletes.” The conference also announced that a league-record 81.22% of eligible student-athletes earned Presidential Honor Roll status for their work in the classroom in 2024-25. To be named to the Big South Presidential Honor Roll, student-athletes must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better for the recently-completed academic year, and this past season, 2,279 out of 2,806 eligible student-athletes achieved the benchmark. Furthermore, all nine full-member institutions cleared 70% for the first time. “Our student-athletes continue to achieve record-setting academic accomplishments across the Conference, and this year’s league record of 81.22% of all student-athletes obtaining a 3.0 GPA or better represents the Big South’s unwavering commitment to our student-athletes’ academic success,” said Big South Conference Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery. “Academics serves as a cornerstone of the student-athlete experience. I would like to personally applaud all recipients and member institutions for their continued dedication to providing exceptional educational experiences.” Other top schools included Radford University with 84.46% (212) of its 251 eligible student-athletes on the list, followed by UNC-Asheville at 83.63% (235-of-281), High Point University at 82.10 (344-of-419) and Longwood University at 81.72 percent (219-of-268). The remaining five full members were above the 74 percent range—Winthrop University, USC-Upstate, Presbyterian College and Charleston Southern University. The Big South had an all-time high 277 student-athletes receive the Commissioner’s Award distinction in 2024-25 for having a 4.0 GPA. Gold Award scholars (3.75-3.99) totaled 679 while another 554 received Silver Award (3.50-3.74) accolades in 2024-25 for a combined total of 1,510 student-athletes with at least a 3.50 GPA last year—66.26 percent of all Presidential Honor Roll members at or above that threshold. °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝â€™s 2024-25 Commissioner’s Award honorees are listed below by sport, while the full 2024-25 Presidential Honor Roll is available 2024-25 Big South Commissioner’s Award Recipients (Student-Athletes with 4.0 GPA) Baseball Reid Bertram Garrett Macias Aidan Marino Ethan Rossow Carson Willoughby Dean Winters Men’s Basketball Shahar Lazar Women’s Golf Julia Buchgeher Bekka Mull Anna Snoblová Women’s Lacrosse Ella Bishop Reese Jones Lillian Martindale Emma Meyer Women’s Soccer Peyton Bryant Lydia Robinson Softball Anna Hornbaker Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teryn Bour Ashlynn Cassada Adrionna Coleman Selah Holcombe Alena Ivanov Kendall Reece Isa van Sintemaartensdijk Volleyball Morgan Hornaday Molly Littlefield Sloane Rooney Rebecca Siedenburg Men’s Swimming & Diving Justin Bender Daniel Bennett Manuel Brandner Theodore Drescher Jacob Jensen Joshua Johnson James Seip Women’s Swimming & Diving Kaitlyn Estes Sara Jann Jasmine Kremer Boguslawa Ndubuisi Mariana Valles Chavez Alaina Yeater Big South Sports Communications contributed to this story. °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝ prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at °®ÎŰ´«Ă˝.edu.
