Rebel student-athletes posted the highest cumulative semester grade point average in recorded history. Photo by Nathan Latil/Ole Miss Communications
OXFORD, Miss. – University of Mississippi student-athletes weren’t just successful on the courts and fields this fall, but also in the classroom. Rebel student-athletes posted the highest cumulative semester grade point average in recorded history.
Ole Miss also had its highest number of mid-year graduates, with 22 student-athletes completing their degree requirements, while more than 50 percent of student-athletes earned a 3.00 GPA or better.
In total, 174 student-athletes were named to the Chancellor’s or Dean’s Honor Roll, with 25 student-athletes earning 4.00 GPAs for the fall semester.
“Our Rebel scholar-athletes finished strong in the classroom this fall,” said Derek Cowherd, senior associate athletics director for student-athlete development. “Our student-athletes earned the highest number of 3.00 GPAs (216 of 396) and we had 22 mid-year graduates. Additionally, we recorded the highest overall semester GPA in recorded history with a host of other team and individual successes.
“It’s a great way to send off such an accomplished senior class as they embark on the next chapters of their lives.”
The women’s soccer team continues to impress in the classroom, and for the second consecutive year posted the highest overall team GPA with a 3.63. Eleven student-athletes were named to the Chancellor’s Honor Roll with GPAs of 3.75 or better, while 90 percent of the team earned a 3.00 GPA or higher. Melissa Capocaccia and Gretchen Harknett were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team for their efforts in the classroom and on the field.
The women’s tennis team posted the second-highest team GPA with a 3.48, while seven of nine student-athletes made either the Dean’s or Chancellor’s Honor Roll.
Fresh off a fall in which they won three tournaments, the men’s golf team posted a 3.31 GPA the fifth consecutive fall semester with a team GPA north of 3.00.
The Ole Miss track and field teams were also successful with a 3.01 GPA for the men’s team, which is the highest in recorded history, and 19 student-athletes earning a spot on the honor roll. The women’s team posted its best GPA since 2010 and had seven student-athletes earn 4.00 semester GPAs. On the women’s side, Bo Ummels and Britt Ummels completed coursework for their master’s degrees this fall.
The football team made great strides in the classroom, with 19 student-athletes finishing their degree requirements this fall, spearheaded by Senior CLASS Award nominee and All-SEC selection Chad Kelly. As a whole, the squad posted the second-highest fall semester team GPA in recorded history.
The volleyball team, led by CoSIDA Academic All-American Aubrey Edie, also had an outstanding academic semester, earning a 3.35 semester GPA, the highest in seven years with 75 percent of the team earning 3.00 GPAs.
From a historical perspective, Ole Miss student-athletes are performing at a very high level in the classroom, moving from a 2.81 GPA in the spring of 2011 to a 3.00 GPA – the highest ever – in the spring of 2016, a number set to continue to rise throughout the 2016-17 academic year.
December 2016 Graduates
Football
Quincy Adeboyejo
Tony Bridges
Terry Caldwell
Tony Conner
Robert Conyers
Drew Davis
Issac Gross
Akeem Judd
Chad Kelly
Jeremy Liggins
Tyler Pittman
Hunter Thurley
Grant Warren
Taz Zettergren
Men’s Track
Adam Aguirre
Kevin Conway
Craig Engles
Branden Green
Rifle
Alison Weisz
Women’s Basketball
Erika Sisk
Women’s Tennis
Mai El Kamash
Women’s Track
Bo Ummels
Britt Ummels
For further academic accolades, follow @UMTrueRebel on Twitter.