FORT MYERS, Fla. – The eighth-annual Hillmyer-Tremont Foundation Academic Honors Luncheon was held inside the Cohen Center Ballroom on the campus of FGCU this afternoon.
 
A total of 64 student-athletes were honored at the luncheon for earning a 3.5 cumulative GPA or above while attending FGCU for at least two semesters, including 19 with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Overall, the Eagles extended their outstanding performance in the classroom with an impressive 3.24 cumulative GPA for the fall semester.
 
In fact, Eagle student-athletes exceeded the FGCU undergraduate semester mark (3.05) for the 15th consecutive semester. All totaled, 12 of the Green and Blue's 15 teams earned cumulative GPAs greater than 3.0 for the fall, and five clubs posted GPAs of at least 3.3.
 
"We are exceptionally proud of our student-athletes for the outstanding effort they continue to put forth in the classroom, while also succeeding in their competitions and serving as role models throughout Southwest Florida," said Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh. "It's also a strong testament to our student-athletes that they can produce these academic results while also earning several more conference championships. Their devotion to excellence is a source of pride for not only FGCU Athletics, but for the entire University. Likewise, we continue to be very appreciative of the tremendous roles that our outstanding faculty, Kelly Jean Brock, and our academic staff, as well as our coaches play in the overall equation."
 
During the luncheon, FGCU Athletics honored Dr. Ludmilla "Millie" Wells with the Special Recognition Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has distinguished him or herself by providing a superior level of service and support to student-athletes at FGCU in their pursuit of academic and athletic success.
 
A longtime member of the FGCU Faculty, Dr. Wells has continuously gone above and beyond to help all FGCU students to the best of her capabilities. In particular, in her recently concluded six-year term as the department's Faculty Athletics Representative, she certainly was of great assistance to not only countless Eagle student-athletes, but as a colleague to the Athletics staff. In turn, she remains a valued contributor of her valuable time and talents as a member of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee that is appointed by and reports to President Bradshaw.

Individually, including first-semester student-athletes, 24 individuals finished with a 4.0 GPA for the fall semester, representing roughly 10 percent of the entire student-athlete body with perfect grades for the term. Among the overall population of 252 student-athletes, 90 (36 percent) achieved a 3.5 or higher term GPA. The women's tennis team posted the highest cumulative GPA among FGCU's programs with a 3.72, while the women's golf team secured the best term GPA also with a 3.72.
 
Perfectly embodying success on and off the field, six student-athletes were named to their respective ASUN All-Academic Teams in the fall: Miguel Jamie (No. 20 nationally-ranked men's soccer); All-American Tabby Tindell and Camille Knudstrup (women's soccer); Troy Clark and Maximilian Weigand (men's cross country) and Anita Munoz (women's cross country).
 
Furthermore, 75 percent (866) of the 1,150 total grades earned in the fall semester by student-athletes were 'B or higher', including a total of 526 A's (46 percent).
 
"The continued academic successes speak to the type of student-athletes our coaches recruit and the expectations they create for them in and out of their competitions," said Brock, Assistant Athletics Director, Director of the Student-Athlete Learning Center. "With support from Undergraduate Studies and the Athletics Department, our student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom and set the bar high for future Eagles."
 
Outstanding achievement on and off the field is nothing new to Eagle student-athletes. In a testament to past athletic success, the Eagles have won the ASUN All-Sports Championship in three of the past four years.
 
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 59 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 9+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just 5+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had 27 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships (including upcoming appearances for swimming and men's basketball).
 
The following are highlights and benchmarks achieved by each team over the course of the fall semester (unless denoted):
 
Baseball: Highest team term GPA for Fall 2016; improved term GPA from 2.88 to 3.19 (2nd-best in team history).
Men's Basketball: Five student-athletes earned FGCU AD Honor Roll recognition (3.0 GPA of higher).
Men's Cross Country: Eight of 11 student-athletes earned above a 3.0 GPA, including five above a 3.5 and one 4.0.
Men's Golf: Most improved individual sport term GPA (2.68 to 2.99).
Men's Soccer: Nine student-athletes earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Men's Tennis: Four student-athletes had term and cumulative GPAs of 3.0 or higher.
Women's Basketball: Ten student-athletes earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher, including three 4.0 GPAs.
Women's Cross Country: Five of the six student-athletes on the team carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Women's Golf: Highest term GPA of any individual or team sport (3.72).
Women's Soccer: Eleven of the student-athletes had above a 3.5 GPA.
Softball: Improved its term GPA from 3.20 to 3.34 and its cumulative GPA from 3.32 to 3.36.
Swimming & Diving: Twenty-four of 32 student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or higher, including five 4.0s.
Women's Tennis: Holds the highest cumulative GPA for any sport (3.72); three of eight student-athletes had a 4.0 GPA.
Beach Volleyball: Improved cumulative GPA from 3.47 to 3.55.
Volleyball: Improved cumulative GPA from 3.39 to 3.52. 
 
ABOUT FGCU
Seven programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sports. In 2014-15, FGCU finished 9th in the Division I-AAA Learfield Sports Director Cup final standings, ahead of several prominent Big East, Missouri Valley and Atlantic 10 Conference members Ticket information for upcoming events is available by logging on to FGCUTickets.comor by calling 239-590-7145. Additional news and schedule information is available at FGCUAthletics.com. Follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEagles), Facebook (/FGCUAthletics), Instagram (@FGCUAthletics) and YouTube (/FGCUAthletics).
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.