Every year the National Junior College Cross-Country Coaches Association honors the program whose team holds the highest grade point averages (GPA). The 470 men's and women's team are invited to participate entering their team's top seven cross-country student-athletes with the highest GPA. The NJCCCA calculates the scores like a cross-country meet, using each schools' top five GPA's and combining them for a team score.
This year the Florida State College at Jacksonville's men's cross country team ranked 17th in the Nation with a combined GPA of 3.403 and the women's team was ranked 19th with a combined GPA of 3.406.
Leading the BlueWave academic surge were a pair of freshman student-athletes, Orange Park's John Bear with a 4.0 and Jacksonville's Allison Newkirk also with a 4.0. Rounding out the top GPA's for the men were, Aldren Biala 3.43, Joseph Hale 3.13, Andrew Stone 3.38 and Lucas Van Ginkel 3.0. For the women's team, Stephanie Baustista 3.38, Hannah Shearer 3.38, Kellee Valaro 3.30 and Mackenzie Griffin 3.0.
Top teams with a combined GPA of 3.2 or higher are awarded the All-America Scholar team award and each scoring team member is awarded a certificate.