Bryant University Students-Athletes Achieve Academic Success

Athletics success can be measured in many ways. Whether it is by the number of records set, goals scored, championships won or loss, or the number of selections to various all-Conference or All-American teams at the end of the year. 

While Bryant University's student-athletes have earned many of the recognitions listed above this year thanks to hard work and dedication when it comes to competing, Bryant's student-athletes have also hit a home run where it counts the most: the classroom.  

This past academic year, Bryant's student-athletes posted a combined grade point average of 2.84 during the spring semester.  It's the highest combined GPA for the more than 450 student-athletes in a decade.  

"Throughout our athletics department our coaches and administration challenge our student-athletes to be leaders in the classroom, in the competitive area and in the community," said Assistant Athletic Director Coni Fichera.

"This year our student-athletes truly achieved a remarkable balance of success in all three areas.  The continued development of the skills required to achieve balanced excellence in all aspects of their lives is a core component of our NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills program"

Thirty-percent were named to the Dean's List and 43 percent earned a GPA of 3.0 or better during the semester.  Four student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in the spring: Nikole Such (lacrosse), Chelsea Downing (tennis), Scott Twardowski (track) and Jessica Clark (soccer).  Such, Downing and Twardowski all managed their perfect marks during their respective seasons. 

Women's volleyball, fresh of their Northeast-10 Conference Championship season, posted the highest GPA as a team of 3.26 placing them among the highest team GPA's since 1993.  Men's basketball, an NCAA participant for the fifth-consecutive year in '08, posted its highest team GPA of 2.80 since Bryant starting tracking in 1993.  

Being a member of a varsity athletics team requires several skills.  In addition to possessing the ability to compete at a high level athletically where Bryant is consistently competing for championships every season.  Outside of the actual competition days, a student-athlete must be able to manage their time and stay organized. The privilege of being a student-athlete is more than showing up on game day ready to compete. 

A student-athlete must be able to find the right balance for team practice, meetings, conditioning without losing their focus on academics. 

"Having the highest GPA in more than a decade demonstrates these student-athletes are striking that balance," said Director of Athletics Bill Smith.

"It's these skills that have helped make Bryant student-athletes so successful and become tremendous leaders following graduation."