Bulldogs in the Classroom

As much as the University of Minnesota Duluth has accomplished on the field of play since the inception of intercollegiate athletics some eight-plus decades ago, it has also maintained an equally strong and proud tradition of academically preparing its student-athletes. 

Case in point: Over the past quarter century, nearly 94 percent of those student-athletes who participated in a varsity sport for at least four years have graduated. 

• In 2011-12, 89 different UMD student-athletes -- up 12 from the previous year -- secured Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference All-Academic honors and 16 Bulldogs (seven men and nine women) were named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic Team. Of that group, six (three men and a school-record six women) earned WCHA Scholar-Athlete status for maintaining a 3.50 grade point average or above.

• UMD’s 401 student-athletes, which includes redshirted freshmen, posted an collective grade point average of 2.995 in 2011-12 and 82 of those achieved GPAs of 3.50 or above while 13 turned in perfect 4.00 GPAs. 

• During the Fall Semester, the women’s basketball Bulldogs produced the best GPA of all UMD teams with a 3.51 mark and women’s soccer took top honors in the spring, checking in with a 3.44 figure. On the year, women’s basketball registered a department-best 3.45 GPA while women’s soccer (3.41) and volleyball (3.35) were the next. 

• On the individual front, two Bulldogs -- football placekicker David Nadeau (second team) and volleyball defensive specialist Allison Fanta (second team) -- received 2011-12 Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American recognition. That duo, along with junior winger Audrey Cournoyer (first team), and junior soccer defender Kristi Merhman (first team) attained Capital One Academic All-District V acclaim this past season as well. 

• Fanta was also among six UMD seniors who were bestowed with a NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic With Distinction Award, Eric Cyr (Cross Country/Track and Field), Megan Stroh (Cross Country/Track and Field), Abby Thomas  (Cross Country/Track and Field), Emma Van Winkle (Basketball) and Matt Venaas (Cross Country/Track and Field). Nadeau, meanwhile, was selected to the National Football Foundation’s National Honor Society in recognition of their exemplary academic achievements.

University of Minnesota Duluth
CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

*Academic All-American of the Year