New Orleans, LA – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the Division I Track & Field Academic Awards for the 2024 season on Monday afternoon. Teams and athletes are selected based on their performance in the classroom, on the track and in the field during all phases of the student-athlete experience.
 
The High Point men's and women's teams were both awarded as All-Academic teams, as the men posted an overall GPA of 3.43 and the women a 3.53 GPA. The HPU men had five athletes make the All-Academic team while the women had six athletes make the All-Academic team.
 
Here is the criteria to be named an NCAA Division I All-Academic Athlete:

• Minimum CUMULATIVE grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, certifiable by either NCAA Faculty Rep or NCAA Compliance Coordinator or Registrar's Office. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0].
• Must have completed at least two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters at the nominating institution.
• Athletic criteria for the award:
  • For the indoor season: must have finished the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event, or in the top 48 in any championship relay event, for the most recent indoor season, certifiable by their place on final season performance lists on TFRRS for Indoor Track and Field (including performances achieved outside the qualifying window during the indoor season).
  • For the outdoor season: must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships (the Preliminary Championship Competition and/or the Final Championship Competition) or for the multi-events, must have finished the season ranked in the top 48 in the East or top 48 in the West for the most recent outdoor season, certifiable by their place on the NCAA Division I

Men's All-Academic Athletes:
 

Alex Constantinou	High Point	Finance
Reid Holloway	High Point	Computer Science
Shaun Thomas	High Point	Accounting
Chris Van Niekerk	High Point	Actuarial Science/Data Analytics
Cole Wilson	High Point	Exercise Science

Women's All-Academic Athletes:
 

Lindsay Cooper	High Point	Business Administration
Sydney Horn	High Point	Special Education
Sydney Koker	High Point	Health and Wellness
Katie Taylor	High Point	Business Administration (MBA)
Rachel Vesper	High Point	Biology/English (Double Major)
Auriane Viola	High Point	Communication and Business Leadership (Masters)

 
The USTFCCCA has been awarding All-Academic honors since 2010 and since 2010, the High Point women as a team have earned a spot on the All-Academic team. The 2024 season marks the highest team GPA (3.53) since 2010. The women have also had at least one athlete selected to the All-Academic athlete selection, with the exclusion of the 2020 Covid-19 season. From 2021 to 2024, the HPU women have had six athletes make the listing each year.
 
As for the Panther men, the team was named to the All-Academic team for the first time in 2013 and has continued to receive the award every year since. The 2024 season posted the second highest team GPA since 2013 with the 2016 season still holding the highest mark with a 3.49 GPA. The HPU men have had at least one athlete named to the All-Academic athlete selection in 11 out of the last 14 seasons, with the 2024 season having HPU's highest number of honorees (5).