The University of Dayton held its undergraduate commencement this Sunday, May 6 in UD Arena. Nearly 2,000 students participated in commencement exercises and 75 degrees were conferred upon Flyer student-athletes.

Combined with degrees granted earlier this academic year in August and December, about 2,900 Flyers will earn degrees, a record for one academic year.

Dayton has had unprecedented success during the tenure of this senior class; both academically and athletically.

Some of the athletic accomplishments of this senior class include:
-    17 NCAA Tournament appearances
-    21 conference team championships in the last four years.
-    Several A-10 Individual Track and Field Champions
-    3 Pioneer Football League Titles

The academic numbers are just as impressive:
- Dayton is among the nation’s best in graduating its student-athletes. UD’s 95 GSR in this year’s report places the University tied for 21st  in the nation and tied for first in the Atlantic 10. 

- The Flyer men’s and women’s basketball teams both have 100 GSR scores. Dayton is one of just four institutions whose men’s and women’s basketball programs have perfect GSR numbers and both won at least 20 games last season.  That exclusive club’s membership consists of Dayton, Duke, Notre Dame and Princeton.

-  In the latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) reports, 12 of the Flyers’ 17 teams had an APR score of 985 or higher (out of a perfect score of 1,000), well above the national average : women’s soccer (994), women’s track and field – indoor and outdoor (991 for both), volleyball (995), men’s golf (1,000), women’s basketball (1,000), women’s rowing (1,000), women’s tennis (990), women’s cross country (994), women’s golf (1,000), men’s basketball (985) and softball (985).

-   UD men’s and women’s golf, women’s basketball and women’s rowing all had perfect scores.

- Five Flyer programs –men’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s basketball, women’s golf and women’s rowing – have the top APR in their sport in their respective conferences, while two more – football and volleyball – have the second-best.

- Nationally, six Dayton teams posted multi-year APRs in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sport – football, men’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s basketball, women’s golf and women’s rowing.

-  Following the Fall 2011 semester, UD student-athletes had a combined cumulative grade point average of 3.235 and all 15 of 16 programs had a team GPA of 3.0 or higher.

On top of those accomplishments, these student-athletes have also done thousands of hours of community service in the Dayton area.