Tartan Athletes Dazzle in the Classroom Again

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – The 2014 fall semester was another source of pride for the athletes of Carnegie Mellon as they excelled in sport and in the classroom. A total of 78 student-athletes recorded a 4.0 grade-point average (GPA) for the semester. This is a continuation of last year’s academic success, when 70 student-athletes posted 4.0s in the fall semester and 58 followed suit with perfection in the spring.

Of the 18 varsity athletic programs, men’s tennis led the way with eight perfect GPA’s out of 17 members and registered a 3.64 cumulative GPA. Football totaled 14 perfect marks for the semester while the men’s soccer team had nine athletes earn a 4.0 GPA, as the team had a 3.45 cumulative average. On the women’s side, both the women’s soccer team and the women’s swimming and diving team had six members with a 4.0 during the fall which contributed to team averages of 3.49 and 3.44, respectively.

“Carnegie Mellon’s student-athletes continue to make their mark academically and athletically. They are excelling in all facets of their educational experience, and our community takes great pride in how they represent the university,” said Director of Athletics Josh Centor.

On top of the semester success, 12 upperclassmen maintained cumulative GPA’s of 4.0. The success was widespread among the colleges, as 30 students with 4.0s were enrolled in the College of Engineering (CIT), 18 in Dietrich College, 17 in the Tepper School of Business and nine in the Mellon College of Science (MCS).

Between the two tennis programs, 11 players earned 4.0s, which is more than a third of the group. That excellence extended to the tennis court, with both teams ranked in the top 10 nationally following the fall semester

“We strongly promote the achievement of excellence on and off the tennis court,” said head men’s and women’s tennis coach Andrew Girard. “Recruits and their parents frequently ask us if success in both areas is possible. The answer is a resounding ‘Yes.’”

Head swimming and diving coach Matt Kinney added, “This success is a true representation of the balance student-athletes at CMU can achieve in the classroom, sports venues, and in their careers later on. The work ethic our teams’ exhibit is directly related to the success they achieve.”

For track and field, eight women and 10 men achieved 4.0s with five each running cross country and one participating on the football team.