MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama Department of Athletics recognized more than 100 student-athletes for their classroom achievements during the fall semester on Thursday at the Scholar-Athlete Breakfast held at the University Student Center Ballroom.

To be invited to the event, individuals must have recorded a grade-point average of 3.5 or better in their fall classes; 114 student-athletes achieved that mark including 43 with a perfect 4.0 GPA.  As a group Jaguar Athletics concluded the fall with a 3.01 cumulative grade-point average as 14 of 17 teams ended up with a term GPA at or above a 3.0 after.

"Having been a student-athlete decades ago, I can certainly appreciate the hard work and the dedication it takes to be able to excel in your sport as well as in the classroom.  Some of you will finish this year so we won't see at next year's breakfast.  For those of you who will be returning, make sure that we see you here and that you continue the success in the fall," stated University President Dr. Tony Waldrop.  "I want to thank our athletic director, Dr. Joel Erdmann, who is so committed to success in competition and academics; it's very important to him, and I think that plays a big role in the coaches also recognizing how important that is."

Five sport programs — men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field/cross country, soccer, softball and football — had 10 or more individuals receive an invitation to the ceremony, while 16 squads had at least one member honored; the trio of men's and women's golf along with women's tennis had more than half of its active roster finish with a 3.5 or higher GPA last semester.

The men's cross country and women's golf teams were honored after posting the highest team grade-point averages last fall, while the most improved GPAs from the 2016 spring semester were recorded by the men's golf and women's basketball squads.

Karen Peterson, senior instructor in the university's English department, was recognized during the event as well.

In the fall, South finished in the top half of the Sun Belt Conference in four of five sports while having 23 student-athletes earn all-league honors including three all-region selections.  Not only did the Jaguar soccer program repeat as both the conference regular-season and tournament champion — making its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as a result — but senior Tiina Trutsi was voted first-team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

"Everyone is here because you earned the right to be here, this wasn't easily accomplished.  As student-athletes you make a conscious choice to emphasize what you're going to achieve in the classroom, talk is cheap and results are real," USA Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Erdmann commented.  "Faculty, teachers and instructors earned the right to be here because, in the eyes of our student-athletes, you influence them in a very positive way with your guidance, understanding and tolerance of our travel schedules.  You're guiding our student-athletes through an academic path that will lead them to a professional career one of these days, we appreciate what you do.  Coaches have earned the right to be here because you've created a culture within your program that has equal expectations in wins and losses and academic achievement, we've got our priorities where they need to be and where they will remain."

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).

Join the South Circle, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to the South Circle directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/give

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