COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The NJCAA recognized a record-number 4,587 student-athletes for their success in the classroom Tuesday with the presentation of the 2015-16 NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards.

Of the 57,472 student-athletes that participated in the NJCAA during the 2015-16 academic year, 7.98 percent earned national academic honors – over double the previous mark of 3.31 percent set last year.

Honoring academic performance throughout each individual's collegiate career, there are three classifications of the NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards based on the following cumulative GPA qualifications:

                Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence: 4.00 GPA
                Superior Academic Achievement Award: 3.80-3.99 GPA
                Exemplary Academic Achievement Award: 3.60-3.79 GPA

Of the student-athletes honored, a record 663 were presented the NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence. A total of 1,610 individuals earned the Superior Academic Achievement Award, while an additional 2,314 received the Exemplary Academic Achievement Award – both setting new records.

Northwest garnered a school-record 43 NJCAA academic student-athlete award winners, which ranked fourth in the nation behind Itawamba (60), Butler (53), East Central, Johnson County and Allen County (47). Soccer led all Northwest athletic programs with 11, while tennis came in a close second with nine. Softball and baseball also came away with eight and six, respectively, while all other sports combined with 10 selections.

In addition to individual honors, seven Northwest teams were recognized as NJCAA All-Academic Teams. Women's tennis led all Northwest athletic programs with a 3.66 overall GPA, the fourth-highest in the nation. Softball (3.56), women's soccer (3.30), men's tennis (3.25), women's basketball (3.20), baseball (3.19) and men's golf (3.08) were the other teams receiving recognition.

For a list of all this year's recipients from Northwest, click here. Certificates can be printed at www.njcaa.org.