MOBILE, Ala. – For the second straight semester, the University of South Alabama Department of Athletics recognized over 100 student-athletes at the Academic Achievers Breakfast at the University Student Center Ballroom Monday morning.

The event honored individuals with a 3.5 grade-point average or better last fall, with 103 student-athletes invited to attend.  The group featured 29 persons who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA last semester as well as 15 all-Sun Belt Conference performers.

"I am here to both thank and congratulate a number of people," University President Dr. Tony Waldrop said.  "I want to thank faculty and staff for the understanding and support they provide, I can tell you even after four decades it makes such a difference to have a professor who is willing to help you when you have to miss classes because of competition.  Athletic department administrators and coaches make sure they know how important it is to succeed in both the classroom and on the playing field, and how that makes a difference the rest of their lives.    Congratulations to all the student-athletes, it's a great thing you've done making sure that you've studied as well as performed as an athlete."

Twenty members of the women's track and field/cross country teams were at the event to lead the department, which included five from the cross country squad that won its first conference championship since 1993 in November.  Both the football (17) and men's track and field/cross country (13) teams had a double-digit number of honorees, with the school's baseball, soccer — which claimed its third straight Sun Belt title and earned the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory as well — softball, women's tennis and volleyball programs all featuring five or more individuals invited to attend.  Each of the Jaguars' 17 sport programs had multiple individuals recognized.

The men's and women's tennis teams earned awards for both the highest semester grade-point average in the fall and most improved group GPA from the spring to the fall.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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