Kentucky Student-Athletes Shine On and Off the Field with 80 Named to SEC Academic Honor Roll
In a year where Kentucky student-athletes continued to raise the bar on the field, they’ve also reminded us that success in the classroom is just as much a part of the Wildcats' DNA. A total of 80 University of Kentucky student-athletes have earned a spot on the 2025 Fall Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll, as announced by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.
This honor roll isn’t just a pat on the back-it’s a recognition of sustained academic excellence. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA over the previous academic year or carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. That’s no small feat when you consider the demands of elite-level athletics, travel schedules, and training regimens.
The 80 Wildcats who made the list represent a wide cross-section of UK Athletics. Football led the way with 33 honorees, followed by women’s soccer (14), men’s soccer (11), volleyball (9), women’s cross country (8), and men’s cross country (5). It’s a testament to the culture of accountability and academic support that’s clearly embedded across every program.
And that culture is thriving.
Earlier this academic year, UK Athletics reported its 27th consecutive semester with a department-wide GPA of 3.0 or better. The fall 2025 term saw scholarship student-athletes post a combined 3.414 GPA-an impressive mark that speaks volumes about the commitment both from the students and the support systems around them.
Leading the way were the women’s tennis team, who posted a remarkable 3.88 GPA-the highest of any team in the department. On the men’s side, the baseball team set the pace with a 3.725 GPA. In fact, all but one of UK’s 23 varsity teams cleared the 3.0 threshold, showing that academic success isn’t limited to just a few standout programs-it’s a program-wide standard.
The academic accolades don’t stop with the honor roll. In December 2025, 25 current and former Wildcats walked across the stage at commencement, including two who earned master’s degrees. That followed the 116 student-athletes who graduated in May, bringing the total number of UK Athletics graduates in 2025 to 141.
Behind the scenes, much of this success is powered by UK’s CATS program-the first academic center in the country built specifically for student-athletes. CATS is a cornerstone of UK’s Student-Athlete Experience division, which focuses on preparing athletes for life after sports. Whether it’s academic advising, career development, or personal growth, the infrastructure is in place to help Wildcats thrive beyond the scoreboard.
That investment is paying off in measurable ways. UK set a school record with a 93 percent NCAA Graduation Success Rate, and every team met or exceeded the required benchmarks in the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR). In fact, UK’s overall APR was higher than the national average-another sign that the Wildcats are not just meeting expectations, they’re exceeding them.
Here’s a closer look at the student-athletes who earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition this fall:
Men’s Cross Country (5):
Alex Alston (Finance)
Ed Bird (Kinesiology)
Miles Brush (Psychology)
Collins Kipngok (Sport Leadership)
Caden Miracle (Kinesiology)
Women’s Cross Country (8):
Jayla Atkinson (Kinesiology)
Morgan Dick (Psychology)
Elly Heine (Psychology)
Ava Hendren (Finance)
Allison Kruger (Kinesiology)
Chesney McPherson (Human Health Sciences)
Lyric Olson (Nursing)
Baylor Wolfe (Kinesiology)
Football (33):
Alex Afari Jr.
(Communication)
Beau Allen (Finance)
Wilson Berry (Kinesiology and Health Promotion)
Cutter Boley (Communication)
Ty Bryant (Communication)
Jager Burton (Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Management)
Hayden Dawahare (Management)
Cam Dooley (Sport Leadership)
Jalen Farmer (Communication)
Fred Farrier II (Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Management)
Tavion Gadson (Marketing)
Grant Godfrey (Communication)
Josh Kattus (Communication)
Jacob Kauwe (Biology)
Cole Lanter (Community and Leadership Development)
Aidan Laros (Finance)
Alex McLaughlin (Finance)
Tino Merlo (Sport Leadership)
Kyle Mixon (Agricultural Economics)
Tovani Mizell (Sport Leadership)
Jack Monday (Management)
Terhyon Nichols (Health Promotion)
Quintavion Norman (Sport Leadership)
Austin Ramsey (Leadership for Communication Ed.
& Human Learning)
Chy Rivers (Psychology)
Willie Rodriguez II (Undeclared)
Jackson Schulz (Sport, Fitness, and Recreation Management)
Quay’sheed Scott (Undeclared)
Jacob Smith (Social Work)
Jaden Smith (Undeclared)
Rushaune Vilane (Kinesiology)
David Washington Jr. (Criminal Justice)
Andrew Weber (Marketing)
Men’s Soccer (11):
Bertil Alban (Management)
Isaiah Chisolm (Accounting)
Joshua Gordon (Information Communication Technology)
Agustin Lopez (Communication)
Max Miller (Management)
Marqes Muir (Economics)
Eric Onos (Psychology)
Kaden Pollard (Finance)
Bains Smith (Finance)
Sinan Solmaz (Management)
Oliver Stavdal (Economics)
Women’s Soccer (14):
Dana Dahm (Creative Social Entrepreneurship)
Madeline Eastman (Marketing)
Sydni Fink (Psychology)
Mallory Glass (Communication)
Grace Hoytink (Management)
Thalia Morisi (Biology)
Michelle Moskau (Management)
Marilia Nieves-Melchor (Criminal Justice)
Anna Sikorski (Management)
Abigail Stager (Management)
Tanner Strickland (Management)
Katherine Truitt (Kinesiology)
Gianna Tuzzolino (Human Health Sciences)
Lexi Tylenda (Management)
Volleyball (9):
Hannah Benjamin (Elementary Education)
Molly Berezowitz (Marketing)
Brooke Bultema (Management)
Jordyn Dailey (Psychology)
Brooklyn Deleye (Health Promotion)
Ava Sarafa (Management)
Asia Thigpen (Human Health Sciences)
Molly Tuozzo (Marketing)
Kennedy Washington (Kinesiology)
This isn’t just about GPAs and honor rolls-it’s about a culture of excellence that runs deep in Lexington. Kentucky student-athletes are proving they can compete with the best in the SEC and still handle their business in the classroom. And as the numbers show, they’re not just getting by-they’re thriving.