June 18, 2007

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Student-athletes at the University of Kansas set several athletics-department records in the classroom during the 2007 Spring semester.

A total of 247 student-athletes, representing 61 percent of student-athletes, earned spots on the Athletics Directors' Honor Roll with grade-point averages of 3.0 or better; 36 of those achieved perfect 4.0 GPA's.

The student-athletes combined for a 3.02 GPA, a Kansas Athletics record, led by women's golf (3.44), volleyball (3.40) and rowing, which set a team record with a 3.33.  Nine squads sported GPA's higher than 3.0, with tennis (3.25), swimming and diving (3.21), soccer (3.23), women's track and field (3.17), softball (3.14) and men's golf (3.10) joining women's golf, volleyball and rowing.

Football also set its all-time record with a 2.69 GPA.

Beginning with the Spring 2007 term, the KU Spirit Squad has been added to the Athletics Director's Honor Roll.  The entire squad earned a cumulative GPA of 3.08, and 36 students were named to the Honor Roll, including six members who earned a 4.0.

"I am absolutely delighted with the academic performance of our students in the Spring 2007 term," said KU Athletics Director Lew Perkins.  "The records they set - the Athletics Director's Honor Roll and the all-department grade-point average - are records that date back 21 years.  Just when I believe that our student-athletes have given us every ounce of energy in their sports and in the classroom, they remind me once again just how incredible they are.  My congratulations go to the student-athletes and to the terrific Kansas faculty, and to the academic-support staff in Kansas Athletics."