In addition to SBU's best-ever showing in the Division II U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup Standings, and SBU's Nick Smart coming home with the Ken B. Jones Award for MIAA Male Student-Athlete of the Year, the SBU Bearcats have earned a prestigious MIAA Academic Award.

At the MIAA Awards Banquet in Kansas City, the MIAA recognized SBU Athletics for having the "Most Improved Graduation Rate for Student-Athletes from the Previous Year."

The award takes into account the improvement in the graduation rate between the freshman class of 1999-2000 and the freshman class of 2000-01. SBU's graduation rate improved by 2% during the period considered for the award.

SBU's Director of Athletics, Brent Good, was on hand to receive the award.

"Any time you receive any award from the MIAA, one of the nation's top conferences, it is truly a great accomplishment. This award was very special, because the ultimate goal of the student-athletes of the MIAA and SBU is to graduate."

"It was a fantastic night for the SBU Bearcats at the banquet. Not only did we come away with this award, we saw Nick Smart recognized as the top male student-athlete in the MIAA in the areas of athletic accomplishments, academic accomplishments, and community service. We had several teams and coaches recognized for the great years they had. Our men's and women's tennis teams, for example, were both recognized for having the highest team GPA at the NCAA Division-II National Championship Spring Sports Festival in Houston, Texas. And to top it off, we heard MIAA Commissioner Jim Johnson recognize Missouri Southern’s women’s basketball team and our men's basketball team for their community service project during the MIAA tournament last March."

"What a night to be a Bearcat!"