Academics

Maine Captures Academic Cup as AE Student-Athletes Shatter GPA Record

BOSTON – In a year unlike any other before it, America East student-athletes once again achieved great heights in the classroom led by the University of Maine, which captured the Walter Harrison Academic Cup as announced on Tuesday afternoon. Maine student-athletes who competed in America East sports collectively earned a record-setting 3.62 cumulative GPA to win the 2020-21 Academic Cup, its third in school history.

America East student-athletes combined to achieve a 3.42 cumulative GPA, shattering the previous conference standard. Each school earned no worse than a 3.27 mark.

“Congratulations to Maine and each of our member institutions and student-athletes on such an impressive academic year,” said America East Commissioner, Amy Huchthausen. “The success our student-athletes collectively attain in the classroom this year while managing challenges related to the pandemic is truly impressive. They continue to raise the bar every year.”

The Academic Cup, established by the America East Board of Directors in 1995, is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year. The award was named for long time University of Hartford President, Walter Harrison, in 2017.

Highlights include:
  • Maine wins the 2020-21 Walter New Hampshire's Harrison Academic Cup with an institutional GPA of 3.62, the highest in conference history.
  • The Academic Cup is Maine’s first since 2006-07 and third in school history.
  • America East student-athletes averaged a 3.42 GPA overall in 2020-21, shattering the previous conference record.
  • All 10 America East institutions averaged better than a 3.25 GPA in 2020-21, the first year that has been accomplished.
  • It’s the 16th consecutive year America East student-athletes have averaged better than a 3.0 GPA. 
School Rankings:
Rank School                          GPA
1. Maine                                 3.62
2. Hartford                              3.50
3. Vermont                              3.47
4. UNH                                   3.47
5. NJIT                                  3.46
6. Binghamton                       3.45
7. UMBC                                3.30
8. Stony Brook                       3.29
9. UMass Lowell                     3.28
10. UAlbany                           3.27

Sport GPA Champions
  • Baseball – NJIT (3.54 – AE baseball NCAA AQ)
  • Men’s Basketball – Hartford (3.61)
  • Women’s Basketball – Maine (3.92 – AE regular-season champion) – highest of any AE team in any sport
  • Men’s Cross Country – Hartford (3.60)
  • Women’s Cross Country – Vermont (3.77)
  • Field Hockey – Maine (3.70)
  • Men’s Lacrosse – NJIT (3.44)
  • Women’s Lacrosse – UMBC (3.58)
  • Men’s Soccer – UNH (3.56 -  AE regular season and tournament champion)
  • Women’s Soccer – Maine (3.84)
  • Softball – Hartford (3.78)
  • Men’s Swimming and Diving – Binghamton (3.59 – AE champion)
  • Women’s Swimming and Diving – Maine (3.67)
  • Men’s  Track and Field – Maine (3.47)
  • Women’s Track and Field – Vermont (3.64)
  • Volleyball – NJIT (3.81)