Penn State Student-Athletes Prove that Success With Honor is Truly the Penn State Way -- Giving to Penn State -- The Pennsylvania State University -- Office of University Development

Penn State Student-Athletes Prove that Success With Honor is Truly the Penn State Way
Thursday, January 27, 2005

Penn State has a long history as one of the nation's premiere programs in intercollegiate athletics. More important than their success in competition, though, is the way that our student-athletes carry themselves off the playing field and succeed in the classroom.

The 2004 NCAA Graduation Rates report revealed another superb effort by the approximately 800 Penn State student-athletes. For the second time in three years, Nittany and Lady Lion student-athletes posted the highest graduation rate among the nation's public institutions, tied with the University of Virginia at 83 percent.

Members of the Penn State football team delivered another outstanding academic performance during the 2004 fall semester, with a program record fifty squad members earning at least a 3.0 grade-point average. Among the fifty players, thirteen earned dean's list recognition by posting a 3.5 or higher grade-point average last semester.

One of the highest achievers is senior safety Andrew Guman (Allentown), who was selected a first team Academic All-American by ESPN The Magazine.

Guman became the twenty-third Nittany Lion under Coach Joe Paterno to earn first team Academic All-American honors. The Nittany Lions' total of thirty-three Academic All-American football players ranks fourth among all Division I-A institutions. Thirty-one of the selections have been under Paterno.

The record-setting classroom performance is the latest success in a long line of academic achievement for members of Paterno's program:

According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association's 2004 Graduation Rates Report, 68 percent of students who enrolled at Penn State in 1997-1998 earned their degrees, well above the national rate of 57 percent. The four-year average graduation rate for Penn State was 74 percent, second only to Northwestern among Big Ten institutions.

African-American members of the Nittany Lion football team posted a 70 percent graduation rate, substantially above the Division I-A average of 49 percent. Penn State's four-year graduation average of 72 percent was second-highest in the Big Ten among African-American football players and twenty-five points higher than the national average.

Fourteen current or former members of the football team earned their degrees in December 2004. Among the graduates were quarterbacks Zack Mills and Michael Robinson, as well as former standout Terry Killens.

In addition to the thirty-one Academic All-America selections during Paterno's tenure, Penn State has had fourteen National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes and eighteen NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship winners under the legendary coach.

For more information contact Intercollegiate Athletics.

Related Stories: Success With Honor--A Campaign for the Penn State Way--LaunchPad, October 2004