Gardner-Webb Leads the Pack: 85.90% of University’s Student-Athletes Named to 2024-25 Big South Presidential Honor Roll

More Than 80% of Big South Student-Athletes Achieved a 3.0 Grade Point Average in 2024-25

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—The Big South Conference announced today that student-athletes from Gardner-Webb University are at the head of the class. For the first time ever, Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs led all Big South institutions, as GWU had 85.90% (335) of its 390 eligible student-athletes on the Presidential Honor Roll, and was one of five members to have at least 80 percent of 3.0 students.

In addition, 41 Gardner-Webb student-athletes made the Presidential Honor Roll with a 4.0 Grade Point Average and received the 2024-25 Big South Commissioner’s Award.

Interim Vice President and Director of Athletics Chuck Burch praised the student-athletes, their coaches and staff support for their achievements. “I was excited to see such a large percentage of our student-athletes achieving such a high level of academic success,” he asserted. “It’s a testament to their hard work and dedication to their chosen fields of study. I am very appreciative of the emphasis our coaches put on academic achievement and cannot say enough about the work of our Director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Carrie Drake Baker, and her associates as they go above and beyond in their efforts with our student-athletes.”

The conference also announced that a league-record 81.22% of eligible student-athletes earned Presidential Honor Roll status for their work in the classroom in 2024-25. To be named to the Big South Presidential Honor Roll, student-athletes must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better for the recently-completed academic year, and this past season, 2,279 out of 2,806 eligible student-athletes achieved the benchmark.  Furthermore, all nine full-member institutions cleared 70% for the first time.

“Our student-athletes continue to achieve record-setting academic accomplishments across the Conference, and this year’s league record of 81.22% of all student-athletes obtaining a 3.0 GPA or better represents the Big South’s unwavering commitment to our student-athletes’ academic success,” said Big South Conference Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery. “Academics serves as a cornerstone of the student-athlete experience. I would like to personally applaud all recipients and member institutions for their continued dedication to providing exceptional educational experiences.”

Other top schools included Radford University with 84.46% (212) of its 251 eligible student-athletes on the list, followed by UNC-Asheville at 83.63% (235-of-281), High Point University at 82.10 (344-of-419) and Longwood University at 81.72 percent (219-of-268). The remaining five full members were above the 74 percent range—Winthrop University, USC-Upstate, Presbyterian College and Charleston Southern University.

The Big South had an all-time high 277 student-athletes receive the Commissioner’s Award distinction in 2024-25 for having a 4.0 GPA. Gold Award scholars (3.75-3.99) totaled 679 while another 554 received Silver Award (3.50-3.74) accolades in 2024-25 for a combined total of 1,510 student-athletes with at least a 3.50 GPA last year—66.26 percent of all Presidential Honor Roll members at or above that threshold.

Gardner-Webb’s 2024-25 Commissioner’s Award honorees are listed below by sport, while the full 2024-25 Presidential Honor Roll is available here.

2024-25 Big South Commissioner’s Award Recipients (Student-Athletes with 4.0 GPA)

Baseball

• Reid Bertram
• Garrett Macias
• Aidan Marino
• Ethan Rossow
• Carson Willoughby
• Dean Winters

Men’s Basketball

• Shahar Lazar

Women’s Golf

• Julia Buchgeher
• Bekka Mull
• Anna Snoblová

Women’s Lacrosse

• Ella Bishop
• Reese Jones
• Lillian Martindale
• Emma Meyer

Women’s Soccer

• Peyton Bryant
• Lydia Robinson

Softball

• Anna Hornbaker

Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country

• Teryn Bour
• Ashlynn Cassada
• Adrionna Coleman
• Selah Holcombe
• Alena Ivanov
• Kendall Reece
• Isa van Sintemaartensdijk

Volleyball

• Morgan Hornaday
• Molly Littlefield
• Sloane Rooney
• Rebecca Siedenburg

Men’s Swimming & Diving

• Justin Bender
• Daniel Bennett
• Manuel Brandner
• Theodore Drescher
• Jacob Jensen
• Joshua Johnson
• James Seip

Women’s Swimming & Diving

• Kaitlyn Estes
• Sara Jann
• Jasmine Kremer
• Boguslawa Ndubuisi
• Mariana Valles Chavez
• Alaina Yeater

Big South Sports Communications contributed to this story.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.