‘You make us all proud!’: Vulcans student-athletes set new academic benchmark, continuing decade-long upward trend

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Vulcans Athletics — continuing a year-to-year upward trend that started a decade ago — again set a new academic benchmark this year.

Nearly 230 student-athletes representing all 12 of the Hilo sports teams posted a combined record-high grade-point average of 3.32, topping last year’s previous combined record-high grade-point average of 3.28.

It was an impressive academic average increase; however, it was still behind this year’s Pacific West Conference Academic Achievement Awards winners — Point Loma and Dominican.

Student-athletes at both schools tied, putting up a combined grade-point average of 3.52. Conincidentally, Point Loma won the top spot 2 year ago with the same overall combined grade-point average.

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo’s women’s golf team did take top honors out of any women’s golf teams this year though with the highest overall combined grade-point average of 3.67 — even higher than the combined 3.52 that won the overall award.

“Our Vulcans student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom,” said 11th-year University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Athletics Director Patrick Guillen in a release about the academic accomplishment. “Congratulations are in order for their ability to balance full-course loads and daunting travel schedules, all while dedicating countless hours to practices, training and competitions. This, along with a vigorous academic standard here at [University of Hawai‘i at Hilo], make it all more impressive.”

It was also announced earlier this week that a record 170 Vulcans student-athletes earned Academic All-PacWest Team honors for maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or higher.

PacWest even had 186 student-athletes ending the 2024-25 academic year with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average — four of whom were Vulcans:

• Mason Cook (baseball).
• Lauren Otsubo (softball).
• Cami Oyama (women’s tennis).
• Brandon Wada (baseball).

“Academic excellence is an expectation in our program, and the combined support from our coaches, academic advisors and professors provide the assistance that lead to our student-athletes’ success,” Guillen said. “Congratulations on another great year of academic achievement. You make us all proud!”