Charlotte, N.C. - Gardner-Webb University had 171 of its student-athletes earn a spot on the 2010-11 Big South Presidential Honor Roll announced this week by the Big South Conference office.

Gardner-Webb placed 52.62 percent of its 325 student-athletes on the annual conference honor roll, the fourth largest percentage of its student-athletes throughout all the schools in the Big South Conference.

The Runnin' Bulldogs women's track & field program posted the most student-athletes on the honor roll with 21 members, while baseball team recorded 20 members on the list.

However, both the men's and women's tennis teams led the way for GWU with 100 percent of its student-athletes receiving Presidential Honor Roll recognition, while overall 11 different programs placed 50 percent or more of its team members on the conference honor roll listing.

Overall, the Big South Conference placed 1,469 out of 3,169 student-athletes - 46.4 percent -- on its prestigious annual Presidential Honor Roll list for the 2010-11 academic season, announced today by Big South Conference Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander.  To be named to the Presidential Honor Roll, student-athletes must maintain a grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better for the recently completed academic year.  The 46.4 percentage marks the highest percentage since 2003 and is the seventh-straight year above the 40 percent threshold, as well as the sixth consecutive year-to-year improvement.

"The Big South Conference has always taken a lot of pride in the academic accomplishments of its student-athletes," said Kallander.  "To have nearly half of all student-athletes make the Presidential Honor Roll for the seventh consecutive year is a reflection of the outstanding individuals in the Conference and their priorities.  We are all extremely proud of the achievements of these fine young men and women."

The school-by-school listing of the Big South's Presidential Honor Roll is attached to this release, while a sport-by-sport listing is available on the Conference's Website, www.BigSouthSports.com.

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