ALVA, OKLAHOMA - The Division 2 Athletics Directors Associate (D2 ADA) announced their 2021-2022 recipients for the Academic Achievement Awards. Northwestern was well represented this year with 77 student-athletes earning the award. 
 

The criteria to be eligible for this award is: "have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college-level work, have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year, Given the vast experiences institutions have had this year when it comes to participation, all athletes who meet bullet point items 1 and 2 are still eligible as long as they were still an active member of the roster during this academic year."
 

In total across all of Division II there were 16, 639 student-athletes, totaling in 169 different institutions from 24 conferences. The Great American Conference had seven programs representing the conference for academic achievement including 570 student-athletes.  
 

"I am very pleased with the work that our student-athletes did the past year in the classroom as they have been honored by the GAC and by the D2ADA just recently.  Their work is a direct reflection of their efforts to succeed and work toward graduation.  We have such a wonderful faculty and they work so hard for all of our students to grow in the classroom.  Our coaches strive to see our student-athletes succeed  as young adults,  students  and in their sport.  This is another great example of the work that our student-athletes do" stated Director of Athletics Brad Franz.
 

The Rangers 77 student-athletes is fourth most from the GAC overall and is an increase from the 2020-2021 year where the Rangers had 68 representatives.