Local GAC student-athletes earn All-Academic honors

RUSSELLVILLE = The Great American Conference has announced that a record 1,594 student-athletes achieved Academic All-Conference honors, an increase of 214 from the prior high, set last academic year.

Harding led with 215 student-athletes earning GAC Academic All-Conference marks. Among the students was Wesley Featherston (Graduate) of Hope who played baseball and studied Strength & Conditioning and maintained a grade of 3.88.

Southern Arkansas followed in fourth, and included men’s golfer Sr. Coldy Light of Spring Hill, studying Business Administration-Management and maintaining a 3.71 grade, and Soph. Jason Patrick of Prescott, who participated in track & field, and is studying K-12 Physical Education, who maintained an average of 3.69.

For student-athletes to be recognized on the Academic All-Conference team, they must have enrolled as freshmen prior to the fall of 2023. In addition, their grade-point average must be a minimum of 3.30 based on the 4.0 system. The GPA shall be cumulative for the athlete’s entire collegiate career.