Southwest returns as Barnes & Noble College RRAC GPA Champions, scholar-athletes named for 2022-23

WACO, Texas -- University of the Southwest (N.M.) claimed its sixth Barnes & Noble College RRAC GPA Award and its first in five years as the top RRAC program in academic performance for the 2022-23 academic year. One of the founding members of the RRAC, USW had 116 student-athletes earn a 3.0 grade point average or better last year. The cumulative GPA total for USW student-athletes was 3.22.

The RRAC GPA Award is presented annually to the athletic program with the best cumulative GPA among all of its student-athletes in the most recent academic year. The award encompasses all conference sports and any NAIA-certified student-athletes during the 2022-23 seasons.

"It is a tremendous achievement to win the RRAC GPA award," says Steve Appel, USW Vice President Facilities and Athletics. "Our coaches and student athletes deserve all the credit in achieving this award. Our coaches at USW put a lot of emphasis in recruiting the best 'student' athletes for each of their programs which has led to higher retention and graduation rates here on campus. Thank you to all our student-athletes who still put a high value on their education and for all the faculty and staff who continue to help guide them through their academic and athletic years here at USW."

In addition to the overall GPA award, a total of 1,230 individuals across the conference were named Barnes & Noble College RRAC Scholar-Athletes. Eight RRAC members - Huston-Tillotson, Jarvis Christian, LSU Alexandria, LSU Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake, Paul Quinn, Southwest and Texas A&M-Texarkana - posted cumulative GPAs over 3.0. OLLU led all schools with 172 scholar-athletes. 

Click below for the complete list of RRAC scholar-athletes from each of the conference's member institutions.

2022-23 RRAC GPA Awards

RRAC GPA Champions