A school-record five Virginia Union University athletic programs have captured the CIAA Dr. Freddie Vaughns High Grade Point Average Awards for 2019-20, the CIAA announced on Thursday, May 21.
 
This award is given annually to the team in each of the CIAA's sponsored sports with the highest cumulative grade point average. Teams were formally recognized during the annual CIAA spring meeting.
 
Virginia Union's volleyball, women's indoor track & field, bowling, women's tennis and women's outdoor track & field programs were all award recipients.
 
"The academic achievements our student-athletics accomplished this year are clear indicators of unwavering commitment and true grit," said Dr. Deborah Martin, VUU's Faculty Athletic Representative.  "The VUU legacy continues."
 
"To excel on the field you also have to excel in the classroom as shown by the VUU sports teams listed below," said VUU Assistant Director for Academic Support E. Lee Coble.  "As we always say, 'Students First, Athletes Second.'  Congratulations...Panther Pride!"
 
VUU's volleyball team had a cumulative GPA of 3.51, the women's indoor track & field recorded a GPA of 3.33.  Virginia Union's bowling team recorded a cumulative GPA of 3.53 while the women's tennis team's GPA was 3.65.  The VUU women's outdoor track & field team recorded a GPA of 3.27.
 
The complete listing of GPA award winners is:
 
Sport                              Institution                  Team GPA
Football                           Livingstone College          2.84
Volleyball                         Virginia Union University    3.51
Men's Cross Country                Shaw University              3.33
Women's Cross Country              Johnson C. Smith University  3.58
Men's Indoor Track & Field         Livingstone College          3.14
Women's Indoor Track & Field       Virginia Union University    3.33
Men's Basketball                   Livingstone College          3.15
Women's Basketball                 Livingstone College          3.39
Bowling                            Virginia Union University    3.53
Golf                               Livingstone College          3.60
Women's Tennis                     Virginia Union University    3.65
Softball                           Saint Augustine's University 3.33
Men's Outdoor Track & Field        Livingstone College          3.17
Women's Outdoor Track & Field      Virginia Union University    3.27
Cheerleading                       Claflin University           3.29