BOSTON – Six different teams took home the top grade-point average in their respective sport, as the University of Hartford combined for a GPA of 3.29 to earn a second place finish in the America East 2018-19 Walter Harrison Academic Cup standings.
 
A conference-leading six of Hartford's 15 America East sponsored athletic programs recorded the highest GPA among their peers. The women's volleyball team highlighted the list of winners for the Hawks, as they earned the highest team GPA in the conference (3.73). Joining them as the top team in the league was baseball (3.21), men's basketball (3.35), men's soccer (3.28), women's soccer (3.68) and softball (3.54).
 
For the eighth consecutive year, Hartford has finished in the top-two in the conference, winning six of the last eight Walter Harrison Cups. New Hampshire edged the Hawks this year with a 3.32 GPA.
 
Established by the America East Board of Directors in 1995, the Walter Harrison Academic Cup, which was renamed in honor of former University of Hartford President Walter Harrison in 2017, is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest GPA during the academic year.
 
Hartford has won the Academic Cup seven times since the inception of the award, including each year from 2012-15.
 
As a conference, America East student-athletes are coming off a tremendous year in the classroom, with each of the nine institutions averaging better than a 3.0 GPA for the second-straight year. The league's student-athletes averaged a 3.22 GPA in 2018-19, matching the highest single-year mark.
 
In addition, America East student-athletes have averaged better than a 3.0 GPA in 23 consecutive years.