HILTON HEAD, S.C. – For the first time in program history, Clayton State Athletics has claimed the prestigious Peach Belt Conference Presidents' Academic Award following an outstanding year in the classroom as announced by the league at the annual meetings on Tuesday, May 28.
 
"We are incredibly proud of the academic success our student-athletes achieved this year," said Director of Athletics Ryan Erlacher. "Winning the Presidents' Academic Award is a milestone accomplishment for our program and certainly highlights the year. Our intentional efforts in the areas of academic excellence and student-athlete development have positioned us as one of the top academic programs in the conference."
 
In its 13^th year, the award recognizes Department-wide academic excellence as compared to an institution's student-athletes and the general undergraduate student population. Following the close of the academic year the PBC collects the average GPA for both of those groups from each of the league's 12 institutions.
 
Together those two numbers are used to generate a ratio that determines which school's student-athletes are performing ahead of the curve at the greatest margin. This year that was the Lakers 144 student-athletes with a ratio of 1.1169 and the first 3.0 GPA over the course of a full year in the history of the program.
 
Overall, 11 of the 12 athletic programs within the PBC saw their student-athletes perform at a higher level than the average student body.
 
The Presidents' Academic Award is part of a larger conference program to highlight the accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field.
 
As an institution, former member Armstrong State has the most such awards with four and is followed by UNC Pembroke with three. Columbus State and Georgia Southwestern have each earned the honor twice.
 
"Our Senior Associate Athletic Director Merlene Aitken-Smith does an incredible job leading our academic excellence initiative, along with an exceptional group of people who work extremely hard to ensure our student-athletes have what they need to be successful," added Erlacher. "Our President, Dr. Hynes, fully supports our Department's academic mission and his encouragement has helped drive our efforts in the classroom forward. Laker Nation should be very proud tonight!"
 
History of Peach Belt Conference Presidents' Academic Award (By Year)
2018-19: Clayton State
2017-18: Georgia Southwestern/UNC Pembroke
2016-17: North Georgia
2015-16: Columbus State
2014-15: Columbus State
2013-14: Armstrong State
2012-13: Armstrong State
2011-12: Georgia Regents (Augusta)
2010-11: UNC Pembroke
2009-10: UNC Pembroke
2008-09: USC Aiken
2007-08: Georgia Southwestern
2006-07: Armstrong State
2005-06: Armstrong State
 
History of Peach Belt Conference Presidents' Academic Award (By School)
Armstrong State - 4
UNC Pembroke - 3
Columbus State - 2
Georgia Southwestern - 2
USC Aiken - 1
Augusta - 1
Clayton State - 1
North Georgia - 1