KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Ashford University athletic department continued to reap the benefits of a strong season in the classroom during the 2009-10 academic year and had a school-record 12 programs designated as NAIA Scholar Teams announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Saints figured into record-breaking numbers released by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), sharing a portion of the 857 teams to receive the national distinction. Last year, a total of 837 selections for NAIA Scholar Team status were announced.

"We are very proud of our student-athletes' academic accomplishments during the past year," AU Athletics Director Meg Schebler said. "These are the kind of shared awards that depict the ideal representation of what our programs are like here at Ashford University."

For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team Award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average must include all varsity student-athletes certified as eligible.

The Midwest Collegiate Conference had its footprints on this year's selections. The volleyball squad at Iowa Wesleyan College was bestowed with the prestigious NAIA Scholar Team of the Year Award, amassing a 3.82 cumulative GPA.

2009-10 Ashford NAIA Scholar Teams
Men's Soccer
Women's Soccer
Softball
Volleyball
Men's Golf
Women's Golf
Women's Basketball
Men's Cross Country
Men's Track and Field (Indoor)
Men's Track and Field (Outdoor)
Women's Track and Field (Indoor)
Women's Track and Field (Outdoor)