LEBANON, Tenn. – Seven Cumberland athletic teams were recognized with the NAIA National Scholar-Team Award recently among 864 teams nationally. A team must post a minimum 3.0 grade-point-average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award. The team GPA must include all varsity student-athletes certified as eligible.
Cumberland teams who were recognized included women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s tennis, football, baseball and softball. Women’s golf led the way with a 3.70 grade-point-average, while women’s soccer posted a 3.16 GPA and men’s soccer was right behind at 3.13.
Softball maintained a 3.11 grade-point-average, with women’s tennis and football at 3.06 and baseball with a 3.00 GPA.
Among schools in the TranSouth Conference, Union University had five teams recognized, while Blue Mountain College had two teams and Bethel University and Lyon College each had one. Among schools in the Mid-South Conference (where the Bulldogs play football), Lindsey Wilson College had 11 teams recognized, while the University of Rio Grande had three, and the University of the Cumberlands and Campbellsville University each had two.
A full list of the 800-plus teams may be found at http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/072710aac.html.
About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The Association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.
Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association’s innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.
CUMBERLAND NATIONAL SCHOLAR-TEAM AWARD
Women’s Golf – 3.70 (4 athletes)
Women’s Soccer – 3.16 (15 athletes)
Men’s Soccer – 3.13 (24 athletes)
Softball – 3.11 (16 athletes)
Women’s Tennis – 3.06 (5 athletes)
Football – 3.06 (52 athletes)
Baseball – 3.00 (34 athletes)
