By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the continued unknown challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic at the forefront of the country, the student-athletes of Tennessee Tech University achieved at an exceptional rate during the Fall 2020 semester.
In the classroom, the student-athletes succeeded at their highest standard to date. For the 24th consecutive semester, the Tennessee Tech student-athletes posted a composite grade point average higher than 3.0, concluding the Fall 2020 semester with an incredible mark of 3.30, the second-highest recorded GPA in program history.
"Our student-athletes never cease to impress me with their hard work, dedication, and all-out effort they put into their school work, and this semester is no exception," said director of athletics Mark Wilson. "This has been a very challenging time for our student-athletes and they have dug deep and continued to persevere through it all. I am thankful for all of the efforts of the faculty and staff of Tennessee Tech University to make this semester another success for every Golden Eagle student, especially our student-athletes. It is a joint effort during these unprecedented times and we thank them for their hard work."
During the Spring semester, 12 of Tech's 14 teams finished with a grade point average above 3.0. A semester after 12 teams accumulated program records for single-semester GPA numbers, three more programs set new standards during the fall semester, including men's cross country, women's cross country and tennis.
The Tech tennis team boasted the highest GPA in the department, earning a 3.79 mark. Women's cross country compiled a 3.69 GPA as a squad to finish second among the Golden Eagle programs. Soccer rounded out the top-three with a 3.55 composite GPA.
"I am incredibly proud of our student-athletes for their tremendous success in the classroom this semester," Assistant Athletic Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Welfare Dr. Leveda Birdwell expressed. "In many ways, this Fall was as challenging, if not more challenging than the Spring semester, yet our student-athletes remained focused and dedicated to their academic success. A huge thanks to our faculty and staff for their dedicated efforts in supporting all Tennessee Tech students this semester."
Yet again, the volleyball team kept its streak of consecutive semesters with a team GPA of 3.0 or better rolling, which dates back to the Fall of 2000, achieving its 41st-straight with a mark of 3.43. Soccer achieved its 34th-straight semester besting the 3.0 mark while softball (3.29) and women's indoor (3.10) and outdoor (3.10) track & field all increased their respective runs to 33 consecutive semesters.
Tennis completed its 25th uninterrupted semester above 3.0 while women's cross country reached its 17th consecutive semester. Women's golf has run its streak to 16 straight semesters with a mark of 3.28.
"It is truly a full team effort throughout the University and Athletics to help our student-athletes achieve at this continued level of success, and that continues each semester," Wilson added. "I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the extra efforts made by Dr. Leveda Birdwell and her staff, Samantha Bates, Virginia Lewis and Kara Phillips. What they did cannot go overlooked and I appreciate their dedication to our student-athletes and their futures.
"I also want to recognize our head coaches and each of their staffs for their efforts in the success of their work in the classroom, particularly this past year. It means so much to me, to our department and to our University to see these young men and women excel in so many ways, and they play an integral role in that as well."
