Two IPFW teams were recognized by the NCAA for their long-term academic performances.
The NCAA announced Thursday that the IPFW women's volleyball team and the IPFW mens' volleyball team earned the Public Recognition Award.
The Public Recognition Awards is an annual honor given to teams that have a multi-year Academic Progress Rate score ranked among the top 10 percent in each sport. A team's APR score measures its academic performance during a four-year period based on the retention and eligibility of scholarship student-athletes.
The Volleydons during the 2011-12 school year had nine players finish with at least a 3.0 grade point average and make the Summit Academic All-League Team. In addition, the IPFW men's golf team had two members selected to the Summit Academic All-League Team.
Both IPFW teams were among the 954 teams to earn the NCAA Public Recognition Awards this year. Among the other teams from Indiana schools to receive the honor included Indiana baseball, Purdue men's basketball, Notre Dame men's basketball, Butler men's basketball and Purdue women's volleyball.
“These teams prove that it is possible to not only balance academic and athletic commitment, as most student-athletes do; but to exceed standards and post outstanding academic scores,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said in a statement about all the winners of Public Recognition Awards. “The drive and determination shown in the classroom and on the field by these men and women represent what it means to be an NCAA student-athlete.”
Teams earning an Public Recognition Award had APR scores ranging from 978 to a perfect 1,000.
All APR scores and penalties for teams with sub-par APR scores will be released Wednesday. Penalties for a low APR score can include loss of practice hours, scholarship reductions or a postseason ban.
