Southeast Missouri State gymnasts garner academic award

The Southeast Missouri State women's gymnastics team has earned a public recognition award from the NCAA based on its multi-year Academic Progress Rate.

The awards are given annually to squads scoring in the top 10 percent in each sport in the APR, which is part of the NCAA's academic reform program.

The gymnastics team achieved a Southeast-best 3.89 cumulative grade-point average with 13 of its athletes earning perfect 4.0 GPAs during the 2009-10 academic year.

Southeast won the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women National Academic Team championship three of the last four years. The Redhawks finished second in 2010. The 2011 award will be announced this summer.

The Redhawks are among 909 teams receiving public recognition awards this year. A total of 239 institutions (out of 335 Division I schools) placed at least one squad on the list.