Seven local college athletes named to 2023-24 MIAA Academic Honor Roll

On Thursday, August 29, the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) announced the list of 1,803 student-athletes from the conference’s nine member institutions named to the 2023-24 MIAA Academic Honor Roll. This marks the ninth-straight year that the total number of honorees surpassed 1,200 student-athletes.

To be recognized, student-athletes must reach a 3.5 grade-point average for the academic year and earn a varsity letter in an MIAA-sponsored sport.

Local athletes named to the list include:

Shane Cook, Adrian College Football (Portland St. Patrick)

Ava Guilford**, Albion College Women’s Basketball (Portland High School)

Reese Townsend**, Alma College Football (Portland High School)

Kayla Weller**, Alma College Women’s Tennis (Portland High School)

Gina Sonday**, Calvin University Women’s Golf (Portland High School)

Noah Lammers**, Calvin University Men's Track & Field - Indoor (Westside Christian)

Branson Goodman*, Olivet University Wrestling (Portland High School)

Overall, Hope College had the highest number of Academic Honor Roll selections with 292, followed by Trine University with 285 and Calvin University with 232. Albion College was fourth with 217 honorees, while Kalamazoo College rounded out the top five with 189.

Along with academic success, MIAA student-athletes showed their strength in competition as 308 were multi-sport letterwinners, and 119 earned a varsity letter in three sports in 2023-24.

Academic Honor Roll Breakdown By School

Adrian - 183

Albion - 217

Alma - 178

Calvin - 232

Hope - 292

Kalamazoo - 189

Olivet - 160

Saint Mary's - 67

Trine - 285

* Number of times a student-athlete has been named to the Academic Honor Roll.

About the MIAA

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) is America’s first collegiate athletic conference.

The 2023-24 academic year marks the 136th consecutive year of operation for the NCAA Division III-affiliated conference. The MIAA was founded March 24, 1888. From the very beginning, the MIAA has conducted full-season championships in multiple sports. There have been changes in some of the sports (bicycle racing and Indian club swing have long since disappeared, and basketball did not even exist in 1888), but these changes have served to develop the MIAA into one of America’s finest NCAA Division III conferences, today offering 23 sports for men and women.

The MIAA’s continuity is noteworthy. Of the thirteen schools that have had full membership, nine are still members -- Adrian, Albion, Alma, Calvin, Hope, Kalamazoo, Olivet, Saint Mary’s, and Trine. Albion and Olivet were charter members, although Albion is the only member to hold continuous membership. Ex-members are Michigan State University (1888-1907), Eastern Michigan University (1892-1926), Hillsdale College (1888-1960) and Defiance College (1997-2000).