News Summary
The eighth annual Kentucky Super Preps awards ceremony in Bowling Green will honor over 300 student-athletes for their achievements in sports and academics. The event, hosted at Bowling Green Ballpark, will feature notable awards including Student-Athlete of the Year. Featured speaker Tyler Kelley will inspire attendees with his exceptional running achievements, while the recognition of WKU athletes highlights a record-breaking academic year, culminating in a high cumulative GPA and graduation success rate.
Bowling Green to Host Eighth Annual Kentucky Super Preps Awards Ceremony
The eighth annual Kentucky Super Preps awards ceremony is set to honor top student-athletes and their academic achievements on Tuesday at Bowling Green Ballpark. The event, commencing at 6 p.m., is sponsored by the Daily News and presented by Med Center Health, along with various local businesses.
This year, more than 300 student-athletes from 14 area high schools will be recognized for their outstanding performance in athletics, academics, and community service. Notable awards to be presented include the Overall Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Athletic Director of the Year, based on a panel of judges’ evaluations. Additionally, one exceptional student-athlete will receive the title of Kentucky Super Preps Athlete of the Year for each sport represented at the ceremony.
Specialty Awards and Honors
In total, several specialty awards will be distributed to highlight individual achievements. Joe Imel, the Daily News Publisher, highlighted the importance of the event in acknowledging student-athletes for their contributions both in athletic pursuits and academic success, as well as their commitment to community engagement.
Featured Speaker
This year’s featured guest speaker will be Tyler Kelley, a notable distance runner from Alvaton. Kelley gained attention for his recent triumph in the Dances With Dirt – Gnaw Bone 50-Mile race, and only a month prior, he competed in the demanding 200-mile Viper 300 ultramarathon in Memphis. His journey serves as an inspiration to many aspiring athletes within the community.
Record-Breaking Academic Year for WKU Student-Athletes
As student-athletes are honored, the academic achievements of Western Kentucky University (WKU) athletes are also noteworthy. The university’s student-athletes achieved a record-breaking cumulative GPA of 3.26 during the spring semester of the 2024-25 academic year, representing the highest mark in school history. This milestone was achieved with the participation of 324 student-athletes.
Team Performance and Recognition
Remarkably, all 14 of WKU’s sport programs secured a team cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, with seven programs exceeding a GPA of 3.5. In addition, a significant number of student-athletes—304 to be exact—were inducted into the 2024 CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll for maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or above. Furthermore, 86 student-athletes were awarded the CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal for achieving exceptional academic performance with a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
Graduation Success Rate
This accomplishment is further complemented by WKU achieving a record high Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 90%, indicating the institution’s commitment to academic support and student success. A total of 87 student-athletes graduated during the 2024-25 academic year, with 60 graduating in the spring or summer semester.
Bowling Green Hot Rods Game Update
In other local sports news, the Bowling Green Hot Rods opened their South Atlantic League series against the Winston-Salem Dash with a 4-2 loss at Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Dash took an early lead with three runs in the first inning from consecutive home runs.
Game Highlights
The Hot Rods managed to score two runs later in the game, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit established early on. Starting pitcher Marcus Johnson was credited with the loss after allowing four runs on eight hits, while Jack Fox of Winston-Salem earned the save with a perfect ninth inning. The teams will meet again for the second game of the series Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. CT, featuring Bowling Green’s Garrett Edwards against Winston-Salem’s Christian Oppor.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Barren County Students Shine in Academic and Athletic Pursuits
Kentucky Super Preps Awards Ceremony Celebrates Student-Athletes
Kentucky Super Preps Awards Ceremony Set for June 10
Kentucky Super Preps Awards Ceremony Set to Honor Student-Athletes
Additional Resources
- Bowling Green Daily News: Sports Super Preps
- Wikipedia: Kentucky
- Bowling Green Daily News: WKU Athletics
- Google Search: WKU Athletics
- Bowling Green Daily News: Hot Rods Update
- Google Scholar: Student-Athlete Academic Success
- Bowling Green Daily News: Prep Baseball
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Student-Athletes
