CAMBRIDGE, Mass. --  For the sixth straight year, University of Vermont, whose student-athletes achieved a 3.19 cumulative grade-point average during the 2009-10 academic year, has earned the America East Academic Cup, it was announced this afternoon. The 3.19 average is the highest in the 15-year history of the award, shattering the previous mark of 3.14, which had been achieved four times.

“Congratulations to the University of Vermont on its sixth straight Academic Cup and record-setting grade-point average,” said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. “This accomplishment is a testament to the hard work done by the student-athletes, as well as terrific leadership by President Dan Fogel, Athletic Director Bob Corran and the entire Vermont athletic department.”

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 averages during that academic year. In all, seven of America East’s nine institutions compiled grade-point averages over 3.0, while 65 percent of the league’s teams (97-of-149) had GPAs of 3.0 or better. Furthermore, the league’s nearly 3,200 student-athletes compiled an impressive 3.05 cumulative average during the 2009-10 season.

“The academic excellence all of our student-athletes continue to achieve is truly impressive,” continued Nero. “Their continued commitment to academics while balancing the rigors of being a Division I athlete, is what defines us as a conference more than anything else.”

University of New Hampshire came in second with a 3.16 mark, which also surpassed the previous record. Binghamton University (3.11), Boston University (3.09), University of Maine (3.09), University of Hartford (3.06) and Stony Brook University (3.03) were other institutions to compile grade-point averages of 3.0 or better in 2009-10.

A total of 12 of Vermont’s 14 teams earned GPAs of 3.0 or better this year. The women’s soccer squad, which posted the best team GPA among all UVM athletic programs with a 3.48 mark, was one of four Catamount programs to record the league’s highest GPA in its respective sport. UVM’s men’s indoor track & field team (3.27), men’s outdoor track squad (3.21) and men’s basketball program (3.08) also accomplished the feat.

Binghamton’s men’s tennis team posted the highest GPA (3.69) of any America East squad and was one of three teams to post the highest grade-point average among the conference’s teams and win an America East Championship, along with its men’s cross country team (3.32) and Vermont’s men’s basketball squad. University at Albany women’s lacrosse (3.38) and field hockey (3.36), along with New Hampshire men’s soccer (3.15), also led their respective sports after capturing regular-season titles.

University of Hartford’s women’s cross country team recorded the highest average of any women’s program (3.66) and was one of just three teams to record an average of 3.5 or better, along with Binghamton’s men’s tennis team and UMBC’s women’s basketball squad (3.50).

Other sport winners were: baseball, Hartford (3.05); men’s lacrosse, Binghamton (3.19); softball, Binghamton (3.45); men’s swimming & diving, Boston U. (3.15); women’s swimming & diving, Maine (3.42); women’s tennis, UMBC (3.47); women’s indoor track & field, Binghamton and New Hampshire (3.36); women’s outdoor track & field, New Hampshire (3.41); and volleyball, Hartford (3.44).

The overall institutional grade-point averages were calculated by dividing each student-athletes quality points by the total credits completed for grade.

Vermont, which has won a conference-best seven Academic Cups, including the last six, also took home the award in its inaugural year (1995-96), while Hartford was the winner in 1996-97. New Hampshire won the Academic Cup in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and Binghamton garnered the cup in its first two years in the conference (2001-02, 2002-03). Maine, which shared the cup with Vermont in 2006-07, also won the honor in 2003-04.

America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the Academic Cup, an All-Academic team comprised of student-athletes that excel both academically and athletically is chosen in each of the conference’s 20 sports by a committee consisting of faculty athletic representatives, academic advisors and sports information directors. Additionally, a scholar-athlete, someone who distinguishes himself/herself as the top student-athlete in his/her sport, is awarded. From that group, one male and one female is selected the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Finally, the conference recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll, with those achieving a 3.5 average or better receiving Commissioner’s Honor Roll status.