CLEVELAND – The academic prowess of UNC Pembroke's student-athletes continued to be displayed nationally recently when 66 student-athletes were named to the 2024-25 Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award listing.

The wrestling program sent an institution-best nine student-athletes to the distinguished list, while football and women's track & field each had eight student-athletes lauded with the honor. 

A total of 1,177 student-athletes across 11 Conference Carolinas institutions were recognized in the release. The league ranked eighth for most honorees across the Division II level. 
 
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.
 
Also, the student-athlete must:

• 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

UNCP's 16 varsity athletic teams combined to post a department 2.905 grade point average across the 2024-25 academic year. Six teams – women's basketball, soccer, softball, swimming, volleyball, and golf – registered a team GPA of 3.0 or better during the 2024-25 academic year.