HILTON HEAD, S.C. – Clayton State University earned its third-straight Peach Belt Conference Presidents' Academic Award as the conference announced its season-ending major awards Tuesday night.
 
The University becomes the first PBC institution to win the award three consecutive times. The Lakers earned the award in 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22. There was no award given after the 2019-20 season.
 
The award, which is presented by Barnes & Noble College, recognizes excellence in academics concerning all of an institution's student-athletes.
 
At the end of the academic school year, the Peach Belt Conference asked each of the league's 10 members to submit an average GPA for the undergraduate student body and a GPA for all student-athletes. These two numbers were used to determine each institutions' GPA ratio that identifies which school's athletes are performing most ahead of the curve in comparison to the student body. The schools are not measured against one another, just their athletes to their students.

Clayton State posted a student-athlete GPA of 3.087 this season and a ratio of 1.1103 to win the Presidents' Academic Award. Overall, nine of the 10 PBC members had student-athlete GPAs that were, on average, higher than the student body with nine schools averaging a student-athlete GPA above a 3.00.
 
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.
 
Clayton State first claimed the award at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season after the Lakers posted their first full academic year with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The 2020-21 season saw Clayton State student-athletes continue the run of Academic Excellence by posting their fifth and sixth consecutive semesters with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Lakers added to their 3.0 streak this season with both the fall and spring semesters meeting the mark.
 
The Lakers join Columbus State, Georgia Southwestern and former members Armstrong State and UNC Pembroke as the only institutions to earn the award multiple times.
 
About Barnes & Noble College
Barnes & Noble College currently operates more than 1,400 campus bookstores and their school-branded e-commerce sites, serving more than 6 million college students and faculty nationwide. As a strategic partner, Barnes & Noble College is a retail and learning company. The company is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
 
History of Peach Belt Conference Presidents' Academic Award (By Year)
2021-22: Clayton State
2020-21: Clayton State
2019-20: No Awards Presented (COVID-19)
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
Clayton State - 3
Columbus State - 2
Georgia Southwestern - 2
USC Aiken - 1
Augusta - 1
North Georgia - 1
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