EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Three University of Evansville sports received Public Recognition Awards from the NCAA based on Academic Progress Rates (APR).
 
The sports that were honored included the Purple Aces women's cross country team, the women's golf squad as well as women's tennis.  For golf and cross country, it marks the fifth year in a row that the programs were recognized.  The UE tennis team was honored for the second-consecutive campaign.  All awards are for the 2012-13 season.
 
"We work extremely hard at the University of Evansville on academics and retention and it is pleasing for three of our sports to receive NCAA recognition," UE Athletics Director John Stanley said.  "It is a credit to the student-athletes and coaches for their work."
 
Cross country coach Don Walters led his squad to recognition by the NCAA for the fifth-consecutive year.  His women's team finished the 2012-13 school year with a 3.573 GPA, tops among all of UE's 14 sports.  Leading the way on and off the course for Walters was Kelby Jenkins.  The Ida Stieler Award winner in 2013 recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA to lead her team to the top.
 
"Academics and retention has always been top priority with both cross country teams," Walters said.  "I am proud that we have great student athletes that are willing to put the time and effort in both Academics and Athletics."
 
Also receiving the award for the fifth-straight time was head coach Jim Hamilton and his women's golf team.  The women checked in with a 3.273 GPA while making strides toward becoming one of the top programs in the MVC.
 
"It is an honor to be recognized for the fifth year in a row," Hamilton commented.  "It is a reflection of the work by our student-athletes in the classroom and on the course."
 
For the second year in a row, Aces tennis coach Nick Mueller and his program brought in APR honors.  The team accumulated a 3.366 GPA last year.
 
"I am proud of the girls on this team for the effort they put in, on and off the court.  They have been able to balance academics with Division 1 tennis very well," Mueller said.  "Graduation is the ultimate goal, and those who have come through this program have been able to accomplish that.  The girls have earned this recognition." 
 
Each year, the NCAA honors selected Division I sports teams by publicly recognizing their latest multiyear NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR).  This announcement is part of the overall Division I academic reform effort and is intended to highlight teams that demonstrate a commitment to academic progress and retention of student-athletes by achieving the top APRs within their respective sports.  Specifically, these teams posted multiyear APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in each sport.
 
The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship.  The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.