It was another record-breaking year in the classroom for Missouri Western student athletes, recording a program record 3.13 cumulative GPA. The cumulative GPA record breaks the previous mark set following the fall 2018 semester.

The cumulative GPA record following the spring semester helped Griffon student athletes continue a trend of raising the bar academically. It was made possible by 13 of 16 intercollegiate athletic teams posting at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA after the spring semester and every team achieving at least a 2.88 cumulative GPA.

“Outstanding classroom performance is emphasized, measured and celebrated in our athletic department, and these record-setting results are a testament to the priority that our student athletes and coaches place on academic excellence at Missouri Western,” director of athletics Josh Looney said. “This is a campus with engaging faculty where student success is the responsibility of every employee. These relationships make a difference. Academic achievement will always be at the forefront of athletic excellence at Missouri Western.”

Shi Qing Ong became Missouri Western’s first-ever Google Cloud Academic All-America® Women’s At-Large selection, earning second-team women’s golf honors. Ong was joined by Griffon football’s Shawn Rouse as Google Cloud Academic All-District® selections. One hundred ninety-seven MWSU student athletes received MIAA Academic Awards, including 13 MIAA Academic Excellence awards and 22 MIAA Scholar-Athlete awards. The total number of student athletes named to the MIAA honor roll was a 31 percent increase from the 2017-18 academic year.

Named to the Missouri Western Athletic Director’s Honor Roll over the course of the academic year were 166 MWSU student athletes. One hundred thirty-nine student-athletes received Dean’s List distinction and 93 were named to the President’s List for a total of 398 Missouri Western honor roll distinctions for Griffons. Sixty-eight Griffon student athletes received Division II Athletic Director’s Association Academic Achievement Awards for achieving at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, representing a 47 percent increase from the department’s previous record total.