OLLU wins third Red River Athletic Conference Top GPA Award
OLLU captured its third Barnes & Noble College GPA Award and second consecutive as the top Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) program in academic performance for 2021-2022. An RRAC member since 2008, OLLU also led the RRAC with 158 student-athletes, adding 10 who played two sports and 12 who were on non-RRAC sanctioned cheer and dance teams for a total of 180 student-athletes earning a 3.0-grade point average or better last year. The 180 total marks the most student-athletes in school history to earn scholar-athlete recognition. The cumulative GPA total for OLLU’s student-athletes was 3.18.
The RRAC GPA Award is presented annually to the athletic program with the best cumulative GPA among all its student-athletes in the most recent academic year. The award encompasses all conference sports and any NAIA-certified student-athletes during the 2021-2022 seasons.
“It is phenomenal to win the RRAC GPA Award for the second consecutive year,” says Athletic Director Shane Hurley. “Our coaches deserve the recognition for recruiting with academics weighing significantly on roster decisions. Their focus leads to higher retention and graduation rates, which are more important than winning alone. A special ‘thank you’ to all student-athletes who make their academic progress a priority, as well as the faculty and staff who support, advise and help educate them.”
OLLU won the Top GPA Award in 2009-2010 with a GPA of 2.90 and again last season in 2020-2021 with a GPA of 3.24. See below for OLLU’s Team GPA finishes throughout the year:
| Season | Cumulative Team GPA | Scholar Athletes (3.0-Above) |
| 2021-2022 – RRAC Top Team GPA Award | 3.18 | 180 |
| 2020-2021 | 3.24 | 174 |
| 2019-2020 | 3.17 | 147 |
| 2018-2019 | 2.94 | 120 |
| 2017-2018 | 3.08 | 96 |
| 2016-2017 | 2.81 | 105 |
| 2015-2016 | 2.85 | 96 |
| 2014-2015 | 2.89 | 86 |
| 2013-2014 | 3.02 | 83 |
| 2012-2013 | 2.81 | 82 |
| 2011-2012 | 2.82 | 49 |
| 2010-2011 | 2.92 | 52 |
| 2009-2010 – RRAC Top Team GPA Award | 2.90 | 54 |
Of OLLU’s 180 student-athletes earning 3.0 GPAs and above in 2021-2022, 25 earned a 4.0, 76 earned between a 3.0 and 3.49 GPA and 79 earned between a 3.5 and 3.99 GPA.
OLLU had the most scholar-athletes than other members of the conference. After OLLU was the University of the Southwest with 147, Louisiana Christian University with 121, Jarvis Christian College with 115, Texas A&M University-Texarkana with 104, LSU-Alexandria with 88, Huston-Tillotson University with 77, Xavier University of Louisiana with 76, LSU-Shreveport with 73, Wiley College with 37, Texas College with 37, Paul Quinn College with 36 and Texas A&M University-San Antonio with 31.
The following student-athletes earned scholar-athlete recognition:
The RRAC does not sanction competitive dance and competitive cheer teams. However, those earning 3.0 GPAs and above include:
Cheer: Jaelyn Garza, Skylar Lloyd, Jazmin Montanez, Madison Smith, Mariah Watts; Dance: Jacqueline Baldazo, Monique Duran, Elisa Gallegos, Jessica Garcia, Alynna Gutierrez, Jewel Ruiz and Madison Smith.