UAPB Athletics Reaches Five-Year Academic High with 3.31 GPA, 26 Chancellor’s Medallion Recipients Since 2018

6/29/2026 12:27:00 PM

UAPB Athletics Reaches New Academic Heights with Highest GPA in Five Years

PINE BLUFF, AR. – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Athletics Department capped off the 2025-26 academic year with its strongest classroom performance in recent memory, posting a department-wide cumulative GPA of 3.31, the highest mark in the last five years and the latest milestone in a sustained upward trend for Golden Lion Scholar-Athletes.

The department's cumulative GPA has steadily climbed from 3.12 in 2021-22 to 3.31 in 2025-26, reflecting the continued commitment to academic excellence by UAPB's student-athletes, coaches, and academic support staff.

More than 280 Scholar-Athletes across 15 sports contributed to another outstanding academic year. A total of 167 Scholar-Athletes posted a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, while all 15 of UAPB's varsity athletic teams achieved a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The department also celebrated 71 graduates and recorded a 79 percent NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR), underscoring its continued commitment to academic achievement and student success.

In addition, student-athletes continued to earn recognition for academic achievement throughout the year. During the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters, 413 academic honors were awarded, including Athletic Director's List, Honor Roll, Dean's List and Chancellor's List recognitions, highlighting the consistency of academic success across the department.

"This year was a testament to the resilience, dedication, and excellence that define Golden Lion Athletics," said Shon Pilcher, Associate Athletic Director for Academics. "Our Scholar-Athletes continued to prove that competing at the collegiate level and excelling in the classroom are not competing priorities. They are complementary ones."

The academic momentum carried into individual recognition as well. In Spring 2026, Heidi Price (Softball, Animal Science) and Makaila Riedel(Women's Soccer, Psychology) each earned a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA and were named Chancellor's Medallion recipients, the university's highest academic honor. Since 2018, 26 UAPB Scholar-Athletes have earned the prestigious distinction, representing sports including softball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, track & field, cross country, football, golf and women's basketball.

The year also marked the return of one of the department's most prestigious academic traditions. After eight years of inactivity, the Arkansas Beta Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, was reinstated on the UAPB campus during Fall 2025. The chapter welcomed 42 new inductees, seven in the fall and 36 in the spring, recognizing student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher while demonstrating outstanding leadership, character and integrity.

Beyond the classroom, the Student-Athlete Academic Resource Center's M.A.N.E. Thing Development Program continued to prepare Golden Lions for success after graduation. Throughout the academic year, the department hosted 109 student-athlete development events focused on leadership, career readiness, financial literacy, mental health, personal development and community engagement.

Among the year's signature initiatives were a Career Networking Night featuring more than 20 companies and organizations, a two-day Career Tour in Dallas that included a sports business panel at AT&T Stadium, and numerous professional development workshops designed to prepare student-athletes for life beyond competition. UAPB student-athletes also completed 493 hours of community service, creating an estimated $17,000 in economic impact throughout the Pine Bluff community.

The accomplishments reflect the continued investment of UAPB's Student-Athlete Academic Services staff, which provides comprehensive academic advising, tutoring, life-skills programming, career preparation and graduation support for every Golden Lion student-athlete.

"What you will find in this report is not just a record of what happened this year," Pilcher added. "It is a reflection of who we are as a program and a reminder of why this work matters. The resilience, dedication, and excellence that carried us through 2025-26 will continue to serve as the foundation for future success."

The complete 2025-26 UAPB Scholar-Athlete Academics Report, which highlights the department's academic achievements, student-athlete development initiatives, leadership programming, and community engagement efforts, is available for viewing below.

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