University celebrates student-athletes during annual event

^{Members of Carson-Newman’s indoor volleyball team celebrate after receiving the 2019 Director’s Cup at the University’s Eagle Scholars Ceremony. The honor goes to the team whose members lead in several areas, including athletic performance, scholarship and character of team members.}

Click to see more Eagle Scholars photos on C-N’s Facebook page.

(Sept. 4, 2019) JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman University held its seventh annual Eagle Scholars Ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Held in the University’s Holt Fieldhouse, the event recognized student-athletes for their hard work in the classroom. In order for students to become Eagle Scholars, they must attain a minimum of a 3.25 GPA. Those with a 3.75 GPA and 4.0 GPA are given Gold and Platinum status respectively. Eligible students are presented a patch to wear on their uniforms during regular season competition.

The brainchild of Carson-Newman’s Amy Humphrey and Gloria Walker, co-directors of C-N’s Student Success, Eagle Scholars has seen massive growth in a relatively short time. When the program began, 72 students were named Eagle Scholars. Each following year marked a steady increase in the number of student members. This year’s ceremony celebrated 220 Eagle Scholars. The number represents a 205% growth since its inception.

Walker says the success of the program is exciting. “The Eagle Scholars initiative has not only increased team GPAs across the board,” said Walker, “but we’ve seen the average GPA of the Athletic Department increase as well.”

The program has two goals according to Walker: to see the total number of Eagle Scholars increase yearly, and to see over half of all Carson-Newman student-athletes reach Eagle Scholar status.