CLEVELAND, Ohio--Despite a year like no other for University of Hawai`i Hilo student-athletes, the Vulcans broke records in the classroom.

The latest example comes with the announcement of the D2 Athletic Directors Association annual achievement awards. The Vulcans had 50 student-athletes named to the 2019-20 team, up from 31 the year previous.

Across the country, NCAA Division II programs stepped up in a pandemic year. A record-breaking 15,318 student-athletes were honored. Those numbers shattered the records for highest number of participating institutions and the largest number of student-athletes being nominated since the award program's inception.

"In a year when we can use all of the good news, the D2 ADA Officers and Board of Directors are proud to recognize the highest number of student-athletes with the Academic Achievement Award than ever before," said D2 ADA President JR Smith, director of athletics at Chadron State College. "The nominations also came from a record number of institutions, showcasing the passion and dedication of our Association and Division II as a whole."

To qualify for the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award, the student-athlete must have a 3.5 grade point average or better, have attended four semesters or two years at their college or university, and have been an active member of the team. The Vulcans had the fifth highest number of players honored in the Pacific West Conference, which had 523 total student-athletes named. 

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Vulcans had posted their highest overall GPA ever at 3.191. "I am proud of our student-athletes," said athletic director Patrick Guillen. "Our emphasis in this area includes having an academic study hall, directed by Melanie Brokaw, who has done a fantastic job. Additionally, our student-athletes rose to the challenge during this COVID-19 year and made the best of the situation."

The women's soccer team led the Vulcans with ten honorees, followed by the women's basketball team with six.

Here follows the 50 UH Hilo Vulcans honored for their work in the classroom in 2019-20.
First Name                         Last Name                     Sport                                Year                                

Mason	Campbell	Baseball	Junior
Jacob	Igawa	Baseball	Sophomore
Jaron	Sugimoto	Baseball	Junior
Casey	Yamauchi	Baseball	Sophomore

Kupaa	Harrison	Men's Basketball	Senior
Anthony	Haskett	Men's Basketball	Junior
Steven	Hubbell	Men's Basketball	Senior
Sasa	Vuksanovic	Men's Basketball	Junior
Evan	Merrier	Men's Golf	Junior
Taylor	Patrick	Men's Golf	Senior
Henrique	Castilho	Men's Soccer	Junior
Robert	George	Men's Soccer	Senior
Michael	Harre	Men's Soccer	Senior
Selvin	Sandoval	Men's Soccer	Junior
Jameson	Sato	Men's Soccer	Sophomore
Luca	Checchia	Men's Tennis	Sophomore
Alan	Cincunegui	Men's Tennis	Sophomore
Arturo	Dell'Eva	Men's Tennis	Senior
Maxwell	Geiger	Men's Tennis	Sophomore
Billi	Derleth	Softball	Senior (post-graduate)
Kristen	Ishii	Softball	Senior
Darian	Obara	Softball	Junior
Markie	Okamoto	Softball	Junior
Jessica	Goodluck	Women's Basketball	Junior
Mandi	Kawaha	Women's Basketball	Sophomore
Allie	Navarette	Women's Basketball	Junior
Bree	Olson	Women's Basketball	Junior
Kim	Schmelz	Women's Basketball	Senior (post-graduate)
Sara	Shimizu	Women's Basketball	Junior
Keely	Kitamura	Women's Golf	Senior
Kaelyn	Uchida	Women's Golf	Sophomore
Hedda	Bjerklund	Women's Soccer	Senior
Annie	Brejc	Women's Soccer	Junior
Piper	Collado	Women's Soccer	Sophomore
Madison	Gates	Women's Soccer	Senior
Taylor	Hornburg	Women's Soccer	Sophomore
Kayla	Kunihisa	Women's Soccer	Sophomore
Jodi	Lillie	Women's Soccer	Sophomore
Maisie	Paulson	Women's Soccer	Sophomore
Camille	Strazzo	Women's Soccer	Junior
Brende	Yoshizumi	Women's Soccer	Sophomore
Sandra	Dafincescu	Women's Tennis	Junior
Irena	Le	Women's Tennis	Junior
Anouk	van Hoek	Women's Tennis	Sophomore
Bria	Beale	Volleyball	Junior
Lucee	Fitzgerald	Volleyball	Senior
Ashton	Jessee	Volleyball	Junior
Taira	Kaawaloa	Volleyball	Junior
Lily	Gavagan	Cross Country	Sophomore
Olivia	Jarvis	Cross Country	Sophomore