CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) announced the 2018-19 recipients of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 12th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level.
   
SWOSU was one of six schools from the Great American Conference recognized by the D2 ADA and with 50 individuals selected, the Bulldogs had more representatives than any other league team. Among the players to receive the honor were 10 from SWOSU Football, nine from soccer, seven from volleyball, six from baseball, five from women's basketball, four from men's golf, three from softball and two apiece from men's basketball, women's golf and track & field.
 
In total, there were 11,660 student-athletes from 185 institutions recognized for the 2018-19 Academic Achievement Awards. This set the record for the most participation from institutions and the largest number of student-athletes being nominated.
 
"I am very excited to see the highest number of student-athletes get recognized for their academic achievements this past year," said D2 ADA President Chris Ratcliff, director of athletics at Rogers State University. "The number of institutions recognizing their student-athletes' academic achievements continues to rise. As a Board, this is perhaps one of our biggest initiatives. We see the value of acknowledging academic achievements. This a way for our member institutions, through D2 ADA, to recognize our student-athletes."
 
In order for a student-athlete to receive an Academic Achievement Award, the athletics director of the Division II institution must be a current dues-paying member of the D2 ADA. The student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, completed two years of college level work at a two-year or four/year institution and have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.