MIAMI SHORES, Fla. — A trend of academic excellence that began more than a decade ago continues for Barry Athletics as the Buccaneers combined to post a 3.237 grade point average in the Spring '12 semester. The term was the 18th straight in which the department has been above 3.0, and with a 3.268 GPA, it was the 21st straight with a cumulative GPA above 3.0.
The Bucs set a number of records in the spring. There were 17 undergraduates and one graduate student with a 4.0 GPA, which was a record for both the total and the percentage (9.6 percent) to have a spotless term GPA in the spring. The record-setting group was led by a trio of seniors who each earned their fifth President’s List awards: Anne Fourdraine (women’s golf), Daniel Stapff (men’s golf) and Allie Llaneras (women’s soccer). Sofia Jakobsson (women’s soccer) and Alex Decker (baseball) picked up their third awards, while Ziena Cline (women’s soccer), Joe Conkleton (men’s soccer), Johnny Rodrigues (men’s soccer) and Haley Struthers (women’s soccer) earned their second. The rest of the group, Renee Forcier (rowing), Harold Holness (baseball), Melissa Madrid (women’s soccer), Daniela Murray (women’s golf), Julio Ramos (baseball), Connor Randel (men’s soccer), Julie Stas (women’s tennis) and Kris Wilkinson (men’s soccer), earned their first. Men’s soccer’s Lucas Noboa earned a 4.0 in his first term in graduate school.
“We all are very proud of our student-athletes and their accomplishments this past year both academically & athletically,” Director of Athletics Mike Covone said. “Based on our Academic Success Rates, student achievements, service and collaboration, and team accomplishments on the field, on the water and on the courts, we are fulfilling Barry’s mission while making a difference in the community.”
For the term, 69.5 percent of all student-athletes had a spring term GPA of 3.0 or higher, which topped the mark of 69 percent set in the fall. The previous high before this year was 67.2 percent in the spring of 2010.
Also, 72.5 percent of all student-athletes currently have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, besting the total of 67.8 set in spring of 2011.
The women’s golf team, fresh off a fourth-place finish at the national tournament, continues to lead the program in both term and cumulative GPA. The linksters posted a 3.659 term GPA, and maintain a 3.632 cumulative mark among the seven members of the team. Men’s soccer was second, and best among the men’s teams, with a term mark of 3.496 and a 3.444 cumulative GPA.
“I'm very excited about the outstanding effort and academic show of our student-athletes,” said Maritza Ryder, Assistant Dean of Barry’s School of Human Performance & Leisure Sciences who oversees academic services. “These student-athletes have embraced and exceeded a tradition of exemplary academic performance.
"Setting a strong standard for excellence and consistently emphasizing its importance for the good of the student-athletes and their futures creates a culture for achievement and sets a standard for our work each day. I'm thrilled for the student-athletes in their academic and athletic performances, and am very thankful for the intentional and collective efforts of our ECA, faculty, advisors, coaches, administrators, tutors and staff that supports these young folks reach their life and college goals.”