The fall semester produced 85 student athletes with grade-point averages above 3.5 — each winning recognition from a phone-service provider.

Each year, student athletes from select schools are honored by Verizon Telecommunications for their academic and athletic excellence. Those who maintain cumulative marks of 3.0 or higher are presented the academic excellence award, while GPAs of 3.5 or higher earn Victory Scholar status.

Averages of 3.0 to 3.49 also earn the Huskie Scholar Award.

For the fall semester, 85 NIU athletes were honored for having a 3.5 GPA or better, with 38 of those earning a flawless 4.0. Eighteen Huskie programs produced at least one player above 3.5. They include baseball (nine above 3.5, three at 4.0), women’s golf (three above 3.5, two at 4.0), women’s gymnastics (one 4.0 among five honorees) and softball (one 4.0 among four honorees).

The men and women’s soccer squads each honored five players with 4.0 GPAs. Coach Willy Roy’s men’s team boasted 10 players above 3.5, while women’s coach Frank Horvat honored five 4.0 scholars and four others at 3.5 or higher.

NIU’s fall sporting lineup also produced more than two dozen scholar athletes. Coach Joe Novak’s football squad had 12 players above 3.0. Todd Kress’ women’s volleyball team had four honorees on the list, and Gail Guttenburg’s cross-country squad had three 4.0 performers out of nine qualifiers.