The 2025‑26 United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award has been bestowed upon the High Point University women's soccer squad, recognizing a collective grade point average of 3.59 and marking the twelfth time the program has earned the honor since 2003.
A Tradition of Scholarship
Since the award's inception, the Panthers have amassed twelve recognitions, underscoring a sustained dedication to academic performance that mirrors their competitive drive.
The honor places the Panthers among a select group of 175 institutions whose men's and women's programs both earned the distinction, a testament to the university's dual‑focus on athletic competition and scholarly achievement.
Across the nation, 777 collegiate soccer programs met the academic benchmark of a 3.0 GPA or higher, with 326 men's teams and 451 women's teams qualifying; only a fraction of those schools saw both sides of the ledger honored.
The Academic Edge
Head Coach Aaron McGuiness praised the student‑athletes' commitment, noting that the team has consistently targeted a GPA above 3.5 as part of its daily routine.
Balancing rigorous training schedules with demanding coursework, the team exemplifies how high‑level athletics can coexist with top‑tier scholarship, setting a model for peers nationwide.