ROLLA, Mo. – For the third consecutive year, Missouri S&T has recorded a record number of recipients of the Brother James Gaffney, FSC, Distinguished Scholar Award from the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the recently completed 2023-24 academic year.

A total of 76 S&T student-athletes made the list of those who were honored for finishing the entire academic year with a 4.0 grade point average, beating the marks of 72 set a year ago and 69 in the 2021-22 school year.  The award is named after the former president at Lewis University and a two-time chair of the league's Council of Presidents.  A total of 582 student-athletes – also a league record -- from the 14 full-time institutions and five associate members were honored for finishing the past academic year with a 4.0 average in the classroom.

Missouri S&T's men's track & field and football teams each had better than 10 individuals finish with 4.0 grade point averages out of the 76 on this year squad.  A total of 21 individuals from the men's track & field team – as well as four from the women's track & field team – were named, of which 14 members of the men's squad and two from the women's team also compete in cross country at S&T.  In addition, one of the individuals is also among the 13 football players selected.

The list also includes seven from the baseball and men's soccer teams, five members of its women's basketball and golf teams, four from the women's soccer team and three from the softball and swimming teams as well as one men's basketball player that earned the Distinguished Scholar award for this season.

Missouri S&T's 76 selections were second in the GLVC to Rockhurst's 77, with Southwest Baptist finishing third on the list with 61 selections.  Missouri S&T has been among the top two in Distinguished Scholar recipients in each of the last two academic years.