COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- There are 315 U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities that participate in NCAA Division II athletics. Including the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

"We knew we were doing great things with academic progress of our student-athletes here," said Vice Chancellor for Administration, Brian Burnett. "We have over 200 student-athletes. But for the NCAA to come out with this award...that you don't apply for, you're just honored with...is just an incredible testament to the student-athletes that come the UCCS, the coaches that bring them here and the seriousness they take, not only competing on the playing field and in the court, but in the classroom."

UCCS is one of twenty-four Division II schools to have received the President's Award for academic excellence. For 4 consecutive years, more than 90% of UCCS student-athletes have earned degrees. UCCS was the only public university in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference to receive the honor.

"This semester, actually every team on campus had over a 3.0 GPA as a team," said Athletic Director, Steve Kirkham. "I've always thought there was a correlation. I think smart kids win more games. We had 4 nationally ranked and 6 regionally ranked teams in the fall. Women's basketball team has the best start to a season ever."

"That's really what we're here about," said Burnett. "It's training them to become part of our community and part of the leaders of Colorado and the country once they graduate."