HILLSBORO, Kan. – Tabor College announces that 15 of its 18 varsity athletic teams earned the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Scholar-Team Award for their academic efforts in the classroom during the fall and spring semesters of the 2014-2015 academic year. Each varsity team must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the academic year in order to receive this award.
The women’s tennis team led the way for the Bluejays finishing 53rd in the nation with a cumulative GPA of 3.67. With 15 teams selected for this honor, Tabor is the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference leader in academic excellence.
“Part of the mission of the athletic department is to support learning,” said Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Rusty Allen. “Our coaches work hard to impress upon their athletes the importance of excellence in the classroom. God has blessed us with talented athletes and students. I am proud of our coaches and players and look forward to continued academic excellence.”
Below is a list of cumulative GPAs for each varsity team:
- Baseball – 3.02
- Division II Women’s Basketball – 3.49
- Men’s Cross Country – 3.56
- Men’s Indoor Track & Field – 3.06
- Men’s Outdoor Track & Field – 3.05
- Men’s Soccer – 3.23
- Men’s Tennis – 3.06
- Softball – 3.15
- Volleyball – 3.52
- Women’s Cross Country – 3.58
- Women’s Indoor Track & Field – 3.34
- Women’s Outdoor Track & Field – 3.32
- Women’s Soccer – 3.41
- Women’s Swimming – 3.03
- Women’s Tennis – 3.67
This year marks the first for the baseball team to earn the NAIA Scholar-Team Award. The Bluejays also competed in the Avista-NAIA World Series for the second year in a row.
Head Baseball Coach Mark Standiford acknowledges the efforts by his team in achieving this academic award.
“I am very proud of the way we took care of business both on and off the field,” Standiford said. “To be an NAIA Scholar-Team and to make it to the World Series speaks highly of our team’s character and strong work ethic. This team understands what the real definition of being a successful student-athlete really is.”
President Jules Glanzer attributes this success in the classroom to the academic staff at Tabor.
“These awards are a tribute to the hard work of the students and the outstanding academic staff at Tabor—coaches, student success office, athletic administration and faculty—for working with our athletes helping them succeed both in the classroom and on the court and field,” Glanzer said.
“I am especially pleased that our baseball team is one of the teams receiving the award,” he added. “Receiving this award, in addition to playing in the Avista-NAIA World Series for the past two years, is evidence of the quality program, both academically and athletically, that Coach (Mark) Standiford has built.”
Vice President of Academics Frank Johnson said the student-athletes are to be congratulated for their hard work.
“I commend each of these scholar-athletes as well as the many faculty and coaches who contributed to their success,” Johnson said. “Tabor College is blessed to have nearly every varsity squad represented on the NAIA Scholar-Team roster.”