The grade point average (GPA) of the UD varsity athlete today is higher than it has ever been. In fact, it's higher than that of the average UD student.

The average GPA of UD's 588 varsity athletes is 2.838, with 134 of them making dean's list.

Tim Morrissey, director of the Student Services for Athletes Program, says he thinks UD has gone through some major changes in recent years to produce so many scholar-athletes.

"The University attracts a different caliber of athlete. Our students do not fit the stereotype," Morrissey says.

Tutorial and study hall programs are offered to all UD varsity athletes, Morrissey says. These programs are especially popular with freshman athletes, as is a seminar course that teaches the study and time management skills essential for them to succeed as student-athletes, he says.

In addition, the University also offers the HENS (Helping Each Newcomer Succeed) monitoring program, Morrissey says. This program selects upperclassmen to serve as mentors for freshmen and transfer students. They are matched according to majors or hometowns. Students can go to their mentors with any problems or concerns--from personal to academic.

"UD coaches really push academics and are also a major factor in this equation," Morrissey says, "and they deserve a great deal of the credit." All of the coaches have backgrounds in counseling, he says.

John Hayman, head coach of the UD swimming and diving team, says he tracks the academics of his athletes on a weekly basis and immediately arranges tutors or help sessions if the grades start to fall.

"My main objective for my athletes is to instill a sense of responsibility as well as time management," Hayman says.

The head coach of the women's soccer team, Scott Grzenda, agrees, but he says that the athletes themselves deserve a lot of the credit.

"They have competed all their lives, and grades are just another competition," Grzenda says. "Most athletes are goal-oriented. They know what they want, on and off the field, and they do what they can to achieve it."

An article in the Sept. 10, 1999, issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education, titled "NCAA Graduation Rates: All Division I Athletes," reported the rates as measured by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The percentage refers to the proportion of athletes who earned bachelor's degrees within six years of entering college. The chart covered all Division I athletes who entered college in 1992-93.

According to the chart, UD ranked highly, with 81 percent of its athletes graduating in the six-year time period.

Most of the colleges that compete against UD were ranked lower than the University. For example, James Madison University came in at 73 percent; Villanova was ranked at 72 percent; and Northeastern was ranked at 67 percent. The highest ranked school, the University of New Hampshire, had a graduation rate of 95 percent.

UD's scholar-athletes do not come from one particular sport or major. The following scholar-athletes demonstrate the variety of majors and interests.

Senior Erin Klene of Manchester, N.H., and junior Mandy Merritt of Grimsby, Ontario, Canada, are both distinguished members of the women's soccer team who plan to enter different aspects of the medical field. Klene, with a 4.0 GPA, will attend veterinary school after completing her double degree in biology and animal science. Merritt, who is majoring in athletic training with a minor in biology, wants to attend medical school specializing in pediatrics. With a 3.713 GPA, Merritt recently was selected to attend the 2000 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference May 28-June 1 at Disney's Coronado Spring Resort in Florida.

Senior Brian McGillian of Newark, Del., who was named 1999 America East Scholar Athlete of the Year for men's swimming, also has chosen medicine. He currently is finishing up his double major in biology and liberal studies as part of the Medical Scholars program, a joint program between the University and Jefferson Medical College, and has maintained a GPA of 3.838.

Elisabeth "Elly" Giese of Washington, D.C., a sophomore majoring in economics, is a tennis standout. She set the record for singles wins in a season by a freshman in 1998-99. Her GPA is 3.442.

Senior Mike Pegues of Forestville, Md., who led Delaware to two straight America East and NCAA Tournament titles, became UD's all-time leading scorer for basketball with 1,796 points, after the Jan. 27 game against New Hampshire. A communication major, Pegues has a GPA of 3.239.

Another scholar-athlete is Steve Ricco of Plainview, N.Y., a starting fullback for the Blue Hens football team. After completing requirements for his degree in biology, he returned to the University to get a second degree in economics. After graduation, he wants to work for a pharmaceutical company. With a GPA of 3.481, he was named CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) District II Academic All American two years in a row.

All these scholar-athletes say they believe their busy schedules helped them do well academically.

"I really think that playing a sport forced me to become better at time management," Klene says. "I felt I did better in my classes when I was in-season, simply because there was no chance of wasting time."

McGillian agrees. "I like to think that swimming has actually helped to balance out my schedule by forcing me to structure my time around it," he says.