IRVING, Texas – Rice University has earned the Conference USA Institutional Excellence Award for the third straight year, as announced by Commissioner Britton Banowsky today.

The Owls win top academic honors for 3rd straight season.

The Institutional Excellence Award is given to the C-USA institution with the highest grade point average during the current academic year for all student-athletes in conference sponsored sports.  Rice student-athletes combined for an annual grade point average of 3.014, with five teams representing their respective sport’s top GPA. East Carolina produced four different teams with the highest GPA.

"We are thrilled to see the efforts of our student-athletes recognized by Conference USA for the third consecutive year," Rice Athletics Director Chris Del Conte said. "It is a resounding validation of our core belief that student-athletes can make the decision to attend Rice knowing that we offer them every chance achieve success both in the classroom and in athletic competition.  This is truly a team effort and something all of our student athletes can celebrate.  It is also a great compliment to the job that Julie Griswold and her Academic advising staff have done. They have been tireless in their dedication to our student-athletes.   This is a great day for Rice."

The Sport Academic Award is given to the team in each conference-sponsored sport with the highest grade point average for the current academic year.  The Memphis women’s cross country team posted the highest annual GPA of any sport at 3.713.