SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Summit League officials announced Friday that 1,071 student-athletes earned 2022-23 Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence distinction while Denver secured the Institutional Academic Achievement Award for the third time in its history. The list includes students from last year's ten member institutions and six associate members competing in 17 different sports. The list honors student-athletes for their hard work in the classroom during this past academic year.
 
Qualifications

• In order for a student-athlete to be selected to the Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence, the student-athlete must carry a 3.50 or better cumulative GPA, have used a year of eligibility and completed three full semesters or five quarters at the nominating institution.

By The Numbers

• A total of 1,071 student-athletes across 17 sports were honored.
• South Dakota State had the most total student-athletes selected with 120, while St. Thomas had the second most with 119 individual honorees.
• The Jackrabbits led the league in total number of selections, which includes duplicates for cross country and track and field, with 132. They were followed by St. Thomas (130) and South Dakota (122).
• Denver received The Summit League Institutional Academic Achievement Award for the third time in program history (2016-17, 2021-22). The Pioneers had 71.1 percent of their list-eligible student-athletes earn the academic excellence distinction.
• In addition, the league recognized Team Academic Achievement Awards for each sport based on the percentage of list-eligible student-athletes on the Commissioner's List. North Dakota led the way with five of its squads claiming a team title, while Denver had four squads followed by North Dakota State’s three squads. Kansas City and South Dakota State garnered two team titles and Drake and Western Illinois each had one team on the list.

List of Team Academic Achievement Awards
Baseball: North Dakota State
Men's Basketball: Denver
Women's Basketball: South Dakota
Men's Cross Country: North Dakota
Women's Cross Country: North Dakota
Men's Golf: Kansas City
Women's Golf: Denver, North Dakota State and South Dakota State
Men's Soccer: Denver
Women's Soccer: North Dakota
Softball: South Dakota State
Men's Swimming & Diving: South Dakota
Women's Swimming & Diving: Denver
Men's Tennis: Drake
Women's Tennis: Kansas City, South Dakota and Western Illinois
Men's Track & Field: North Dakota
Women's Track & Field: North Dakota
Volleyball: North Dakota State

List of Institutional Academic Achievement Award Winners (Award began in 2009-10)
2009-10 .........................................South Dakota State
2010-11 ........................................ Centenary
2011-12 .........................................South Dakota
2012-13 .........................................Omaha / South Dakota State
2013-14 .........................................Omaha
2014-15 .........................................Omaha
2015-16 .........................................Omaha
2016-17 .........................................Denver
2017-18 .........................................South Dakota
2018-19 .........................................South Dakota
2019-20 .........................................North Dakota State
2020-21 .........................................North Dakota State
2021-22 .........................................Denver
2022-23 .........................................Denver

Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence (by total number of student-athletes):
South Dakota State – 120
St. Thomas - 119
Omaha – 115
South Dakota - 114
North Dakota State – 109
Denver – 101
Kansas City - 97
North Dakota – 93
Oral Roberts - 63
Western Illinois - 62
Lindenwood – 30 (men’s soccer and swimming & diving associate member)
Eastern Illinois – 24 (men’s soccer and swimming & diving associate member)
Drake – 8 (men’s tennis associate member)
Southern Indiana – 8 (men’s soccer and swimming & diving associate member)
Northern Colorado - 5 (baseball associate member)
Illinois State – 3 (men’s tennis associate member)
 
Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence (by total number of selections):
South Dakota State - 132
St. Thomas – 130
South Dakota – 122
Omaha – 122
North Dakota State – 116
Kansas City - 107
North Dakota – 107
Denver – 101
Western Illinois - 68
Oral Roberts - 63
Lindenwood – 30 (men’s soccer and swimming & diving associate member)
Eastern Illinois – 24 (men’s soccer and swimming & diving associate member)
Drake – 8 (men’s tennis associate member)
Southern Indiana – 8 (men’s soccer and swimming & diving associate member)
Northern Colorado - 5 (baseball associate member)
Illinois State – 3 (men’s tennis associate member)
 
NOTE: "Selections" account for duplicated student-athletes on the list in the sports of cross country and track and field.

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