HILLSBORO, Kan. - Academic excellence from athletes has always been the standard at Tabor College. This past season the scholarly tradition continued as 12 of the 16 varsity athletic teams received the NAIA Scholar Team award for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Tabor's women's cross country team was ranked seventh in the nation with a cumulative GPA of 3.74. Having 12 teams selected for this honor places Tabor as the KCAC leader in academic excellence.

In addition, men's and women's basketball, cross country, tennis, soccer, and indoor track and field along with volleyball and women's outdoor track and field, all qualified for the award by accumulating a team GPA of 3.0 or greater during the 2009-10 school year.

"Part of the mission for the Tabor athletic department is to support learning," said Vice President of Athletics Rusty Allen. "Our students are here primarily to earn a degree.We set a number of academic goals for each of our teams as well as our student-athletes as a whole.

"Having 12 of our teams earn NAIA Scholar Team honors exceeds the goal we had set and we are pleased with this accomplishment."