Edmunds County Tribune -

With the completion of all the SDHSAA winter fine arts and athletic activities, the SDHSAA announces that 546 teams have received the “Academic Achievement Team Awards” for the 2018-2019 Winter Season.

All varsity fine arts groups and athletic teams that achieve a combined grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible to receive the SDHSAA Academic Achievement Team Award.

The Ipswich Girls Basketball teams and Boys Basketball cheerleaders earned the award.

Initiated during the 1996-97 school year, the SDHSAA Academic Achievement Team Award program is designed to recognize varsity athletic teams and fine arts groups for their academic excellence.

The South Dakota High School Activities Association believes that high school students learn in two distinct ways; inside the classroom and outside the classroom – on the stage and/or athletic field. This academic program creates a positive environment for school teams to have its members excel in the classroom. This program is also meant to motivate students toward academic excellence and to promote academic encouragement from teammates.

All varsity teams that participate in Association sponsored activities are eligible for this recognition program. The Academic Team Award program provides high school students with the opportunity to prove they can be overwhelmingly successful in both academics as well as in athletic and fine arts activities.