Dec. 6. 2002
Athletics: Youngstown State Earns USA Today/NCAA Academic Achievement Award
    Indianapolis, Ind. -- Youngstown State University is one of 10 I-AA/I-AAA colleges and universities nationwide to be recognized as having the highest student-athlete graduation rate above the student-body average. Ranking seventh nationally in the category, Youngstown State recently received an award as part of the USA Today/NCAA Foundation Academic Achievement Awards program.
    For student-athletes who entered Youngstown State during the 1995-96 academic year and have earned degrees within six years, YSU student-athletes graduated at a 27-percent higher rate than the general Youngstown State student-body. There were 199 institutions in the I-AA/I-AAA category for the USA Today Academic Achievement Award.
    The rankings from this survey were determined by federal graduation-rate forms used by schools and were for freshmen who entered school in the fall of 1995 and had six years to graduate.
    “This honor proves once again that our student-athletes excel in the classroom as well as on the playing field,” Provost Tony Atwater said. “It’s a credit to the students and also to the coaches and staff in our athletic department, who work so diligently to maintain high academic and athletic standards.”
    Marilyn O'Bruba, YSU coordinator of academic counseling, said YSU student-athletes work tremendously hard to be successful in the classroom and earn their degrees.
    "Our student-athletes work tremendously hard to be successful in the classroom to earn their degrees and this honor is because of their work ethics," said Marilyn O'Bruba, YSU's Coordinator of Academic Counseling. "We work closely with them on a daily basis throughout the year and monitor their progress to help make sure their grades are satisfactory, and that they are on the right track towards their graduation. Our staff works diligently to make sure their time in the Jermaine Hopkins Academic Center is productive and we make sure they can balance academics, practice time and game-time obligations."
    The academic achievement awards were established to recognize colleges and universities in three categories: institutions graduating the highest percentage of student-athletes, institutions with the highest student-athlete graduation rates above the average of the student body, and institutions with the greatest increase in percentage of student-athletes graduating over the previous cohort.
    Long Island University-Brooklyn had the highest percentage difference between graduation rates of student-athletes and the student-body at 49 percent in I-AA/I-AAA. SE Louisiana was second while fellow Horizon League members UW-Milwaukee (32 percent) and Cleveland State (30 percent) were third and fourth respectively.
    Besides Youngstown, rounding out the top 10 schools were Monmouth (29 percent), Southern Utah (29 percent), Horizon League member Wright State (27 percent), Austin Peay (27 percent) and High Point (26 percent).
    Excellence in athletics and academics have long be a strong commitment by the YSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. In 2001, the Penguins joined the Horizon League, which is a league geared toward enhancing the holistic university experience for the student-athlete. Prior to moving into the Horizon League, YSU student-athletes earned Academic all-conference, all-district and All-America accolades.
    Recently, through part of the Andrews Trust, that dedication was furthered as the Jermaine Hopkins Academics Center in Stambaugh Stadium underwent major enhancements. The area of the Center was increased and renovated, new carpeting, lighting and study cubicles were added and individual offices were built for O'Bruba and her staff. During the upcoming semester break a computer lab will be created in the Hopkins Center as well.

2002 Division I-AA/I-AAA Honorees