CCIW ESTABLISHES NEW ACADEMIC AWARD

The presidents in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin have approved a change to the academic all-conference selection for the 2005-06 school year, it was announced today by Chris Martin, commissioner of the CCIW.

Under the new criteria any student-athlete who carries a 3.30 GPA, has earned a letter in a conference sport during the past season and has been enrolled as a full-time student for at least one year will be designated academic all-conference. In addition, each school will be allowed to name two students (one male and one female) during each season (fall, winter and spring) as winners of the Jack Swartz award. The minimum grade point average for the Jack Swartz award has been raised from 3.20 to 3.50.

This change was created by the CCIW in an effort to honor the outstanding academic success of student-athletes in addition to the Jack Swartz winners.

Previously, each school was allowed one male and one female athlete per athletic season (fall, winter, spring) as long as they met a minimum grade point average of 3.20. Those 48 athletes were given the distinction of being Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference winners.