Tiffin University led all NCAA Division II institutions with a record 300 student-athletes earning recognition in the 2024-25 Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Awards.
The Dragons 300 honorees set a new school record and placed TU at the top of the national list, surpassing second-place Colorado Mesa University with 280. The University of Findlay was the only other Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) institution among the national Top 14, finishing with 241 honorees. Only 14 schools nationwide had 200 or more student-athletes recognized. This achievement marks the second time TU has led the G-MAC in total selections. The Dragons placed fourth nationally in 2023-24 and previously reached eighth in 2021-22.
The D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards, now in its 18th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level in NCAA sponsored sports. For the first time since inception, there were more than 22,000 student-athletes recognized from a record 202 institutions for the 2024-25 Academic Achievement Awards, the highest in the program’s history. Since the awards inception, more than 190,000 student-athletes have been honored.
To qualify for this honor, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work and have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.
“This achievement reflects the collective commitment we share in going the distance to ensure our student athletes thrive and succeed.”
“What an incredible accomplishment — our student-athletes are truly the best of the best,” said Tiffin University Director of Athletics, Kelly Daniel. “Being named first in the nation is a powerful testament to the dedication and excellence of our entire TU community — from our outstanding student-athletes to our amazing staff, faculty and administration. This achievement reflects the collective commitment we share in going the distance to ensure our student athletes thrive and succeed. A special thank you goes to Shane O’Donnell and Brittany Brownell for their consistent efforts in submitting our student-athletes for well-deserved honors that do not go unnoticed. Let’s celebrate this moment and continue striving for greatness in the classroom and in the playing arena. It’s a great day to be a Dragon!”