LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Vanguard University Athletics had strong academic success on the individual front, as shown by a record number of Pacific West Conference Scholar-Athletes.  On the heels of that announcement last week, the conference released the final standings for the 2025-26 school Academic Achievement Award today, and the Lions placed second in the PacWest.  The Blue and Gold posted a department GPA of 3.54 using the quality points measurement, an all-time department record.  The Lions were fourth in the standings last year with a mark of 3.44 and trailed only Point Loma in 2025-26.

"Finishing second in the PacWest for team GPA is a tremendous accomplishment, and it reflects something I see every day in my role as Faculty Athletics Representative: our student-athletes refuse to choose between competing at a high level and excelling in the classroom," remarked Amy Jungkeit. "This conference is one of the most academically competitive, which makes this achievement even more meaningful. I'm proud of the discipline, time management, and character our students bring to their coursework, and I want to thank our faculty, coaches, and academic support staff for the culture they've built around student success. This is exactly the kind of holistic excellence Vanguard strives for."