Seton Hill University’s athletic teams achieved the highest grade point average among all schools in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference during the 2015-16 academic year, the third consecutive year the Griffins have attained this recognition, PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray announced today.

Six Seton Hill teams earned the PSAC Top Team GPA Award in their respective sports. Seton Hill student athletes attained an overall GPA of 3.396 in 2015-16.

"Seton Hill student-athletes continue to showcase their talents both in the classroom and on the field of play,” said Mary C. Finger, Ed.D., Seton Hill president.  "This recognition from the PSAC for the third consecutive year illustrates again Seton Hill student-athletes’ dedication to their academics. The entire Seton Hill University community is proud of their accomplishments.”

“Seton Hill’s student-athletes are students first, and this recognition from the PSAC for the third consecutive year highlights their hard work in the classroom,” stated Executive Director for Athletic Programs Chris Snyder.  “I continue to be impressed by our student-athletes commitment and drive, and I am proud of this academic achievement.”

Overall, Seton Hill athletic teams competing in the PSAC averaged a 3.396 GPA during the 2015-16 school year. Seton Hill has had the highest overall GPA in the PSAC in all three years the University has been a member of the conference.

In addition to the overall achievement, six Seton Hill athletic teams received the Top Team GPA Award from the PSAC for reaching the highest GPA among their sports across the conference, which includes 18 public and private institutions in Pennsylvania.

The awards, released at the conclusion of the academic year, honor the teams with the top cumulative team grade point average in each of the sponsored sports within the PSAC. The league hosts 23 championships, however, for the award purposes, indoor and outdoor track and field are counted as a single sport. 

The six Seton Hill teams with the highest GPA among their peers include: women's cross country (3.749); women’s tennis (3.734); women's basketball (3.599); women's track and field (3.597); men's soccer (3.348); and baseball (3.301).

The women’s soccer (3.668); volleyball (3.632); women’s lacrosse (3.532); men’s cross country (3.492); and men’s basketball (3.114) teams each placed second.

In addition to the Team GPA awards, 52 percent of Seton Hill’s 488 student-athletes were named Scholar Athletes by the league for earning a GPA of 3.25 or above in the 2015-16 academic year. Seton Hill had the highest percentage of Scholar Athletes among all PSAC institutions. 

Eight different PSAC institutions claimed Top Team GPA Awards for the 2015-16 academic year. Other multi-sport honorees include Gannon University with six and Mercyhurst University with four.