KIRKSVILLE, Mo.- Truman State Athletics continued its tradition of academic excellence with 63 student-athletes earning the prestigious Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award for the 2025-26 academic year, the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Wednesday.

The 63 honorees represent an increase from last year's total of 59 and mark another strong showing for the Bulldog program among the league's top academic performers.

Named in honor of former Lewis University president Brother James Gaffney, FSC, the award recognizes GLVC student-athletes who achieve a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during the academic year. It stands as one of the conference's highest academic distinctions.

Truman State's 63 recipients were part of a record-setting group across the GLVC, as 780 student-athletes earned the honor in 2025-26. The total surpassed last year's record by 96 recipients and marks the highest number since the award's inception in the 2016-17 academic year.

The Bulldogs were one of eight institutions to surpass the 50-honoree mark this year, joining Missouri S&T, Rockhurst, Southwest Baptist, Drury, Lewis, Indianapolis, and Maryville.

Truman State's continued growth in the number of Distinguished Scholar Award recipients reflects the department's sustained emphasis on academic achievement and its position as one of the GLVC's premier institutions for student-athlete success in the classroom.

The complete list of honorees is available through the GLVC.

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