ANDERSON, S.C. – For the first time since the award's inception in 2007, the Anderson University women's soccer team has earned top academic honors in the Athletic Department following the fall semester, as announced by the department on Thursday morning.

"We are so thankful for Dr. Jacks' continued involvement in AU Athletics and we are thrilled to recognize our women's soccer team with the honor for the very first time," said Vice President for Athletics Bert Epting, Jr. " Our women's soccer team continues to excel both on and off the field and winning this award for the first time is an amazing accomplishment – we are so proud of our young women."

Competition among the Trojans in the classroom was as intense as ever, with nearly every team achieving at least a 3.10 GPA for the semester – including a trio of teams above a 3.50 GPA - and the Athletic Department as a whole setting a new departmental record for the third consecutive semester with a stellar 3.343 GPA.

The women's cross country team, who posted a 3.576 GPA for the fall term, captured the honor for a departmental-record 10th time and the fourth time in six semesters last spring, but was dethroned this semester by the women's soccer squad, which notched a 3.625 GPA this past semester.

The Dr. Shirley Jacks Award is given to the team that possesses the highest grade point average at the end of each semester and the women's soccer team will be presented the trophy at an athletic event during the spring.