Little East Conference (LEC) Commissioner Cora Brumley has announced that Eastern Connecticut State University has earned the Presidents Cup as the top academic institution in the league.  The Warriors registered a cumulative grade point average of 3.11 for the fall 2014 and spring 2015 semesters. Eastern claims the Presidents Cup for the second time, as the Warriors were the award’s first recipients in its inaugural year in 2010.

The Little East Conference Presidents Cup measures the highest cumulative grade point average of the eight institutions in the conference. Each college or university calculates the cumulative GPA for its student-athletes who competed in the league’s 19 championship-sponsored sports.

“I congratulate the scholar-athletes of Eastern Connecticut State University on re- capturing the Little East Conference Presidents Cup, the LEC’s highest academic award, especially on the heels of a second-place finish in the 2014-15 Commissioner’s Cup,” said Commissioner Brumley.  “This prestigious award clearly demonstrates intercollegiate athletics’ ability to enhance the academic mission of our member institutions. The Warriors’ staff are to be commended for their role in facilitating their student-athletes’ achievements.”

During the past academic year, Eastern’s student-athletes were some of the institution’s highest academic performers, registering a 3.11 cumulative GPA compared to the 2.99 GPA of all Eastern students. At the conclusion of the 2014-15 academic year, the Warriors finished with a 5.4706 point average in the Commissioner’s Cup standings, which measures overall on-field performance in the LEC’s 19 sponsored sports.

“The Eastern Department of Athletics is proud to receive the Presidents’ Cup, as it reflects the hard work that our student-athletes put into their fields of study and the passion they show in the classroom,” remarked Runksmeier.  “I think it’s great that the Little East Conference has chosen to honor academic success with the highest award the conference gives. The priority shown by that decision embodies what Division III athletics is all about.”

Eastern saw 76 of its student-athletes earn LEC All-Academic status last year, which recognizes those competitors who achieve a 3.3 GPA or higher in a given semester. Pacing Eastern’s teams in the classroom was the women’s cross-country squad, which accumulated a 3.42 team GPA in 2014, followed closely by women’s soccer at 3.39.

Several Warriors also received national accolades for their efforts in the classroom last year. Senior Jill Ritrosky became the first Eastern women’s basketball player in program history to be named COSIDA Capital One Academic All-District. Joining her for COSIDA All-District honors was cross-country and track and field athlete Lee Cattanach, the second such honoree in Eastern history. Field hockey was again recognized by the NFHCA with a National Academic Team Award, while nine team members were cited as All-Academic Team honorees. Eight Eastern softball players were named NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes.

“I am very pleased to see our student-athletes being recognized for their academic achievements,” said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. “Athletes on our campus are students first, and this data attests to their outstanding performance in the classroom.  As much as we also applaud their accomplishments on the playing field, our student-athletes—like most Division III competitors—know that they are preparing for careers in professions outside of sports.  The self-discipline, goal-orientation and teamwork that our student-athletes practice in competition also help them succeed in class.  These same athletes will graduate to become outstanding citizen leaders with rewarding careers. To know that our student-athletes as a group are excelling academically means that they have their priorities straight. Go Warriors!”

2014-2015 President’s Cup Standings