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 18
th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level in NCAA championship sponsored sports.
For the first time since inception, there were more than 22,000 student-athletes recognized (22,740) 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, 190,136 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 2,035 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 – 1217
- 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 students, and much-deserved congratulations to our 22,000-plus recipients."
In addition to the conferences, 13 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
- 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 …
- a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work
- have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year
Ursuline College had a total of 61 student-athletes achieve this high honor. Below are the athletes names, sport(s), and academic year. Congratulations to all of our hardworking student-athletes for the 2024-2025 school year.
First Name |
Last Name |
Sport |
Academic Year Completed
(i.e. Sr., Jr., So.) |
Emma |
Esteves |
Cross Country/Track |
Sr |
Kayla |
Kephart |
Cross Country/Track |
So |
Giavanna |
Victor |
Tennis |
So |
Amelie |
Fernandez |
Soccer |
Sr |
Caroline |
Peters |
Soccer |
So |
Caroline |
Peters |
Lacrosse |
So |
Ainsley |
Guthrie |
Lacrosse |
Sr |
Briana |
Reynolds |
Soccer |
So |
Briana |
Reynolds |
Bowling |
So |
Kamryn |
Dziak |
Basketball |
Sr |
Rianna |
Linnert |
Cross Country |
So |
Sarah |
Gundler |
Soccer |
Jr |
Riley |
Stopp |
Basketball |
Sr |
Riley |
Stopp |
Tennis |
Sr |
Emily |
Michalak |
Golf |
Sr |
Rebecca |
Styers |
Tennis |
Sr |
Kaitlyn |
Mazzocca |
Softball |
So |
Brittney |
Diekman |
Stunt |
Jr |
Emma |
Kowalski |
Stunt |
So |
Allison |
Fracci |
Lacrosse |
So |
Bridget |
Bogden |
Softball |
Sr |
Chloe |
Lewanski |
Tennis |
Sr |
Esther |
Shackelford |
Stunt |
Sr |
Grace |
Van Niel |
Volleyball |
Jr |
Jane |
Juergens |
Lacrosse |
Sr |
Kyla |
Fitzgerald |
Basketball |
Jr |
Kathleen |
Wack |
Softball |
Jr |
Nicola |
Ehrbar |
Soccer |
Sr |
Hailey |
Donaldson |
Soccer |
Sr |
Leah |
Mencer |
Basketball |
So |
Isabella |
Brancati |
Soccer |
So |
Bridget |
Kinney |
Bowling |
Jr |
Savahnna |
Gyasi-Nimako |
Track |
So |
Maggie |
Keiper |
Soccer |
Sr |
Dominique |
Evans |
Basketball |
Sr |
Dominique |
Weisz |
Cross Country |
So |
Dominique |
Weisz |
Track & Field |
So |
Kailey |
Minch |
Basketball |
So |
Shelby |
Nagy |
Soccer |
Jr |
Ajia |
Schreffler |
Basketball |
Jr |
Ajia |
Schreffler |
Tennis |
Jr |
Lucille |
Petkac |
Bowling |
Sr |
Lucille |
Petkac |
Golf |
Sr |
Peja |
York |
Stunt |
Jr |
Hannah |
Laurich |
Volleyball |
Jr |
Alayna |
Smith |
Golf |
So |
Grace |
Darone |
Lacrosse |
So |
Samantha |
Zarzour |
Stunt |
So |
Catherine |
Kensick |
Stunt |
Sr |
Casey |
Barton |
Softball |
Jr |
Madyson |
Stottsberry |
Basketball |
Sr |
Emma |
Smith |
Cross Country |
Jr |
Emma |
Smith |
Track & Field |
Jr |
Amie |
McCarthy |
Volleyball |
Jr |
Giovanna |
Radilovic |
Bowling |
Jr |
Mya |
Jackson |
Volleyball |
So |
Emma |
Randall |
Basketball |
Sr |
Magdalene |
Johnson |
Volleyball |
So |
Davinia |
Mireles |
Track |
So |
Emma |
Aguilar |
Lacrosse |
So |
Abigail |
Cepek |
Tennis |
So |
Below are the following G-MAC standings for each school.
To view the complete breakdown by schools, click here.
Great Midwest Athletic Conference |
1217 |
Ashland University |
165 |
Cedarville University |
98 |
Hillsdale College |
80 |
Ohio Dominican University |
77 |
Tiffin University |
300 |
Thomas More University |
48 |
University of Findlay |
241 |
Ursuline College |
61 |
About D2 ADA: The D2 ADA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of Division II athletics directors. For more information about the D2 ADA, please visit www.div2ada.com. The D2 ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 61st year. For more information on NACDA and the 19 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
Click here to view the entire release!