A record number of institutions (171) and student-athletes (6,881) are being recognized for the 2012-13 Academic Achievement Awards.  The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference had 759 student-athletes honored, a record-high for the program, followed by the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) with 653 student-athletes being recognized and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) with 635 student-athletes being acknowledged with this award.

"The D2ADA would like to thank and congratulate the institutions that took part in honoring the record-number of 6,854 student-athletes with 2012-13 Academic Achievement Awards," stated D2ADA President Anita Barker, Director of Athletics at Chico State University.  "We continuously strive to recognize and honor deserving Division 2 student-athletes.  This award gives us the platform to showcase these individuals and their efforts in the classroom, as well as on the playing field."

In order for a student-athlete to receive an Academic Achievement Award, the athletics director of the Division 2 institution must be a current dues paying member of the D2ADA. 

Also, the student-athlete must:
    - have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale
    - have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work
    - have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year