Milwaukee, Wis. - A record 179 Illinois Tech student-athletes earned Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Scholar-Athlete honors for the 2024-25 academic year, the conference announced on Tuesday.

The 179 student athletes earning this honor represent 62% of the total Illinois Tech Athletics population, a 19.23% increase from the 2023-24 academic year.

In total, over 2,800 student-athletes from NACC schools achieved this honor.

"Our student-athletes are the heartbeat of this campus — they inspire me every single day," said Usha Gilmore, Director of Athletics. "Balancing rigorous academics with the relentless demands of college athletics is no easy feat, and yet they continue to rise, lead, and exceed every expectation. They're not just representing Illinois Tech — they're redefining what excellence looks like. I couldn't be more proud."

Student-athletes competing in the conference must maintain a grade point average of 3.25 or higher for the academic year to be eligible for the honor. Each academic year stands by itself for the determination of this award.