Eastern Connecticut State University has earned the Little East Conference (LEC) Presidents’ Cup for the 2021-22 academic year with a 3.34 average cumulative GPA among its 19 programs that compete in the LEC. Each of the LEC’s nine member institutions post an average department cumulative GPA over 3.00 for the third consecutive year.
The LEC Presidents’ Cup measures the highest average cumulative grade point average among the student-athletes from the Conference’s nine primary member institutions that compete in the league’s 21 championship sports.
“I am ecstatic that our student-athletes are once again the top academic performers in the Little East Conference,” said Eastern President Elsa Núñez. “Year after year I am impressed by their performance in the classroom just as much as their performance on the field. Three consecutive years with conference-high GPAs is a testament to the culture of our Warriors athletic teams, as well as the commitment of individual players to prioritize their studies so they can become career-ready individuals.”
The Warriors earned the LEC Presidents’ Cup for the third consecutive year, and for a league-record seventh time overall. Eastern first won the Presidents’ Cup when the award debuted in 2009-10, and earned the Conference’s top academic honor for three consecutive years from 2014-17. The Warriors current string of three consecutive Presidents’ Cup wins began with the 2019-20 academic year.
Eastern Director of Athletics Lori Runksmeier said “I am so proud of our student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. Division III is all about balance, striving for excellence in the classroom and in competition. For Eastern to win the Presidents' Cup seven times in its 13-year history is a testament to the tradition of academic excellence within the department.”
Eastern had 17 of its 19 teams earn an average cumulative GPA of at least 3.00, 16 of which had an average cumulative GPA of at least 3.20, including 11 teams with an average cumulative GPA above 3.40 and six that sport an average cumulative GPA over 3.50. The women’s track & field programs posted a department-best 3.61 average cumulative GPA; the top men’s team was cross country with a 3.47 average cumulative GPA.
"Congratulations to Eastern Connecticut for once again winning the Presidents’ Cup,” said LEC Commissioner Pamela S. Samuelson. “The Warriors' student-athletes, and all who support them, are to be commended for their pursuit of academic excellence."
Eastern was one of three institutions to record a department GPA of at least 3.20. Plymouth State University was second in the LEC Presidents’ Cup standings with an average cumulative GPA of 3.32, followed by Castleton University in third-place with a 3.26 average cumulative GPA.
Five of the LEC’s nine member institutions have won the Presidents’ Cup in its brief history - Castleton (2018-19), Eastern, Keene State (2010-13), UMass Dartmouth (2013-14) and Plymouth State (2017-18).
2021-22 LEC President’s Cup Standings
1. Eastern Connecticut - 3.34
2. Plymouth State - 3.32
3. Castleton - 3.20
4. Southern Maine - 3.18
5. Keene State - 3.17
6. UMass Dartmouth - 3.15
7. UMass Boston - 3.14
8. Western Connecticut - 3.10
9. Rhode Island College - 3.02
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