LA MIRADA, Calif. --- It's an exciting day for Biola University Athletics as the Eagles' student-athletes earned their first-ever NCAA Division II awards. The Division II Athletic Directors Association released its list fo 2016-17 Academic Achievement Award Winners on Monday and 61 Eagles landed on the list.

"It is very significant to have our first D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards," said Director of Athletics Dr. Bethany Miller. "With 61 student-athletes, it is clear how academically successful our student-athletes at Biola are. They work just as hard in the classroom as they do on their sport. We are very proud of these first student-athletes who are setting a very high bar for our academic expectations."

Biola was eligible to receive the academic honors as provisional year one members of the NCAA Division II and PacWest Conference. The 61 total award winners was tied for the third-most in the PacWest. California Baptist led the way with 99 award winners, Azusa Pacfic had 72 and the Eagles tied with Point Loma and Dixie State for third.

Ten thousand six hundred and forty four student-athletes from across the country earned this academic honor from the D2 ADA. Six hundred and fifty five of those student-athletes came from the 13 PacWest institutions. 

In order for a student-athlete to receive the Academic Achievement Award they must have a cumulative grade point of 3.5 or higher and have at least four semesters of college work under their belt. The student-athlete must also have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during the last year.

Biola Track & Field and Cross Country led the way for BU with 15 individuals from the program earning the Academic Achievement Award.