Six athletic teams from Valparaiso University have received the NCAA Public Recognition Award for outstanding academic performance.

The NCAA announced that the men’s cross country, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, and women’s indoor and outdoor track teams each received the honor.  The four women’s teams have all earned the honor each of the last three years.

The award is presented to teams that have an NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate in the top 10 percent of all teams in their respective sport. The calculation of APR tracks the academic progress of each student-athlete and includes eligibility, retention and graduation.

With six teams honored, Valparaiso tied with Cleveland State for the most honorees among Horizon League institutions.

“We are excited that our student-athletes once again have demonstrated an outstanding commitment not just to their efforts on the playing fields, but also in the classroom,” Valparaiso University Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera stated.  “We are very proud that year in and year out that they are succeeding as both students and athletes.”

The awards continue to highlight the success that Valparaiso student-athletes achieve in the classroom. In April, 132 student-athletes received Presidential Academic Honors in recognition of earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher after at least three semesters at Valpo.  In addition, 117 student-athletes made the most recent iteration of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll, while 53 Crusaders earned spots on the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll.