BOSTON – Three different teams took home the top grade-point average in their respective sport, as the University of Hartford combined for a GPA of 3.50 to earn a second place finish in the America East 2020-21 Walter Harrison Academic Cup standings.
 
Three of Hartford's 15 America East sponsored athletic programs recorded the highest GPA among their peers. The softball team highlighted the list of winners for the Hawks, as they earned the highest Hartford team GPA (3.78). Joining them as the top team in the league was men's basketball (3.61) and baseball (3.54).
 
For the ninth consecutive year, Hartford has finished in the top-two in the conference, winning six of the last nine Walter Harrison Cups. Maine edged the Hawks this year with a 3.62 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 10 institutions averaging  better than a 3.25 GPA in 2020-21, the first year that has been accomplished. The league's student-athletes averaged a 3.42 GPA in 2020-21, shattering the previous highest mark of 3.22 set in 2018-19.
 
In addition, America East student-athletes have averaged better than a 3.0 GPA in 16 consecutive years.