Kansas State University continued to showcase its commitment to success both on the field and in the classroom as 16 student-athletes were named recipients of the prestigious 2026 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award, the highest academic distinction presented by the Big 12 Conference.
The honor recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance throughout their collegiate careers, maintaining elite grade-point averages while competing at the highest level of collegiate athletics.
Leading the Wildcats’ group of honorees were representatives from multiple sports programs, including football, soccer, baseball, women’s basketball, women’s golf, rowing, and men’s and women’s track and field. The track and field programs accounted for five recipients, while football and soccer each produced three award winners.
Several of the honored athletes have also excelled competitively during the 2025-26 season. Women’s track and field standout Aaliyah Lindsay earned First-Team All-America recognition after placing eighth in the long jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Women’s basketball player Taryn Sides also enjoyed a strong campaign, receiving All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition.
Adding to the achievement, eight of the 16 award recipients were previously named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team earlier this year, further highlighting the academic strength of K-State’s athletic programs.
The Wildcats’ academic success extended beyond the Dr. Gerald Lage Award recipients. Kansas State placed 87 student-athletes on the Spring Academic All-Big 12 Team, while 38 freshmen earned spots on the conference’s Academic Rookie Team. Women’s rowing led all K-State programs with 22 academic honorees, while baseball and women’s track and field each recorded 19 selections.
A remarkable 16 Wildcats achieved perfect 4.0 GPAs among the Academic All-Big 12 honorees, demonstrating the university’s continued emphasis on academic excellence alongside athletic achievement. Additionally, 10 freshmen recognized on the Rookie Team maintained flawless academic records during their first year.
Named in honor of longtime Oklahoma State faculty athletics representative Dr. Gerald Lage, the award is one of the conference’s most prestigious recognitions. Eligibility requires student-athletes to have earned at least 90 credit hours, maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.80 or higher, and contributed to their respective athletic programs as letter winners.
The latest honors reinforce Kansas State’s reputation for developing well-rounded student-athletes who excel in competition while achieving outstanding results in the classroom, further strengthening the university’s tradition of academic and athletic success.
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