SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – The American International College Department of Athletics had an outstanding fall semester academically, as Director of Athletics Rob Kearney announced that the department's student-athletes posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.26 for the opening half of the year.
"I am incredibly proud of the academic achievements our student-athletes have demonstrated this semester. The dedication and hard work our Yellow Jackets show in the classroom reflects the same commitment they bring to competition. This level of academic success across our athletic department is a testament to the character of our student-athletes and the support they receive from coaches, faculty, and staff. It's a privilege to work with young people who understand that excellence extends far beyond athletic performance," Kearney said.
One of the key changes AIC made in the fall was the addition of a Director of Student-Athlete Success position. Samantha Marchand has provided programming for teams to improve academic success as well as data for coaches to utilize, and her efforts are already bearing fruit. Additionally, plans are in the works for a student-athlete hub to create a physical space for studying and for workshops to further aid in academic and career development.
In total, 417 individual student-athletes achieved a GPA of 3.00 or better for the semester, and 18 teams hit that mark; nine teams reached at least a 3.50 GPA as a whole, including softball and field hockey with team GPAs of 3.73 and 3.72, respectively; these teams have consistently been among the best not just at AIC but nationally.
"Our team takes pride in excellence. A 3.73 GPA reflects a culture where leadership and accountability are non-negotiable. High academic standards matter because they develop disciplined, confident women who lead with purpose on the field, in the classroom, and beyond," noted Head Softball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator Shalise Tolentino, whose team GPA ranked second in Division II and fifth in all of the NCAA in the spring and earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic Team status.
"I'm extremely proud of this group for earning a 3.72 GPA while we were in season. Balancing practices, travel, lifts, and games isn't easy, and it says a lot about our student-athletes and the standards they and I hold themselves to. Academics have always been a priority in our program, and this isn't something that just happened this year; we've consistently performed at a high level in the classroom over the past several years. Our team understands that success isn't only measured on the field, and they continue to show up every day with discipline, accountability, and a commitment to being great students as well as athletes," said Head Field Hockey Coach Kylie Gargiulo, whose team has won the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's Team Academic Award and led Division II in cumulative GPA in both seasons she has been on the coaching staff.
The top men's team in the department was the golf program, with a 3.56 team GPA, as the team looks to defend its NE10 Team Academic Excellence Award. Volleyball and basketball, at 3.53 and 3.50 respectively, also had impressive fall semesters.
In addition to team success, there have been strong individual academic accolades. A total of 17 fall student-athletes from men's and women's soccer, women's volleyball, and football earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors; those four teams are the only four that AIC offers that CSC recognizes in the fall. Claudia Flores Marrero also repeated as the Northeast 10 Conference's Elite 24 Award winner for women's volleyball, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each NE10 Championship.
As the calendar flips to 2026, the Department's deep commitment to success on the field and in the classroom will continue to be a focus. The expectation is that these already impressive numbers will improve even more.
