ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T's student-athletes have set another high water mark as 72 individuals have earned the Brother James Gaffney, FSC, Distinguished Scholar Award from the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the 2022-23 academic year.

The 72 selections, which exceeded the previous record of 69 established last year and the most of any GLVC school on this year's list, received the award that is named after the former president at Lewis University and a two-time chair of the league's Council of Presidents.  A total of 536 student-athletes from across the 13 full-time institutions and five associate members were honored for finishing the past academic year with a 4.0 average in the classroom.

Three S&T teams had at least 10 members apiece among the 72 on this year squad, including 17 from the men's track & field team, 12 from the football team and 11 representatives from the women's track & field squad.  Eight of the men's track competitors and six from the women's team also compete in cross country at S&T, while one of the individuals is also among the 12 football players selected.

Missouri S&T also had five student-athletes from the baseball, women's basketball, men's and women's soccer teams and swimming teams land the honor, while the list of Distinguished Scholars also includes three from the softball  and women's volleyball teams and one member apiece from the men's basketball and golf teams.
 
Missouri S&T's 72 selections were nine more than Rockhurst's 63 and 10 more than Truman State among the other 12 GLVC institutions on 2022-23 list.   It marks the first time that Missouri S&T has had the highest number of recipients for this award since it was instituted in the 2016-17 academic year.