Academics
Student Athletes at Thomas on Pace for a Record Year Web Director | January 26, 2023

Each year, Dr. Thomas Edwards, the Thomas College Provost, challenges athletic teams to post a team cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the fall term.  Because so many teams were routinely reaching that mark, together with VP of Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Parsons, the decision was made this fall to extend the challenge to reflect the team average for the entire year.

“We wanted to stress to new students, especially, how important the academic-athletic balance was,” said Dr. Edwards. “The shift to a full year raised the stakes in the challenge a bit, because teams would need to sustain that level of excellence beyond the fall term.”

It appears that the student-athletes are up to that challenge: nineteen out of the 20 athletics teams averaged above a 3.0 GPA this past fall, putting them on pace for a record year academically.
 
“These numbers represent the highest achievement of our athletic teams in the history of the challenge,” said Provost Edwards. “Student-athletes at Thomas go the extra mile. They work hard, and excel, at all they do. These students achieve success on and off the field, academically and athletically. We are very proud of their success.” 
 
Thomas College Vice President for Athletics Chris Parson concurs: “Thomas Athletics is all about being a student first. I am so proud of all of our student athletes for their hard work and for our coaches and athletics staff for their support and creating a culture that fosters success inside and outside of the classroom.”  

In Fall 2022, nearly 45% of Thomas students, over 300 in total, identified as varsity athletes. The academic challenge is one small way for Thomas to recognize the effort, commitment and dedication of the student athletes who contribute in a positive way to their team’s athletic goals while at the same time striving for excellence in the academic classroom.

Congrats, everyone!