Created in 1952 by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the Academic All-America Teams Program is the premier, nationwide college scholar-athlete awards program. It recognizes 816 outstanding student-athletes annually as Academic All-District selections in Division I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports. Being named an Academic All-America happens only one way - excellence on the playing field and in the classroom. To be named an Academic All-America, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point averge, be a starter or key reserve on their team and earn first-team all-district honors before advancing onto the national ballot.

The program has formerly been known as the GTE or Verizon Academic All-American Program but no longer is sponsored by that company. ESPN The Magazine became the title sponsor of the program in the fall of 2004.

More information and history on the program can be found on CoSIDA's official page: http://cosida.com/allamerica/default.asp

Since 1967, Northern Colorado has had 46 student-athletes earn Academic All-America honors a 52 total times. Twelve (12) Bears student-athletes have been first-team selections, including Erin Deffenbaugh (volleyball) in 2004, the first Division I first-team selection for Northern Colorado (winners prior to 1980 for UNC were also Division I selections), and Reed Doughty in football in 2005. Doughty was a three-time Academic All-American, becoming the first student-athlete in Northern Colorado history to achieve that feat.

First-team selections are indicated in bold type.

List of Award Winners

• Dennis Colson - Men's Basketball (1967)
• Rich Ziegler - Baseball (1973)
• Lyle Weiss - Men's Basketball (1975)
• Paul Gradishar - Baseball (1976)
• Joe Strain - Baseball (1976)
• Jeff Letofsky - Baseball (1980)
• Duane Hirsch - Football (1981)
• Ray Sperger - Football (1981)
• Greg Brendel - Men's Basketball (1981)
• Jim Bright - Football (1982)
• Todd Demijohn - Baseball (1983)
• Lanny Paulson - Men's At-Large (1983)
• Diana Worner - Women's Basketball (1983)
• Sandra Elliot - Women's At-Large (1985)
• Terri Deruiter - Volleyball (1986)
• Sandra Elliot - Women's At-Large (1986)
• Tom Langer - Football (1989)
• Mike Yonkovich - Football (1989)
• Rebecca Frahm - Women's At-Large (1990)
• Tom Langer - Football (1990)
• Teresa Martin - Volleyball (1990)
• Wendy Hladik - Women's At-Large (1991)
• Bart Brown - Men's At-Large (1992)
• Amy House - Women's At-Large (1992)
• Kale Gilmore - Baseball (1994)
• Greg Alexander - Men's At-Large (1994)
• Derek Chaney - Men's Basketball (1994)
• Stormie Wells - Volleyball (1995)
• Debbie Ponis - Volleyball (1995)
• Heather Fox - Women's At-Large (1997)
• Ryan Andre - Baseball (1997)
• Missy McVoy - Women's Basketball (1998)
• Jennifer Altman - Women's Basketball (1998)
• Corte McGuffey - Football (1998)
• Marshall Hahn - Wrestling (1999)
• Heather Jones - Women's At-Large (1999)
• Corte McGuffey - Football (1999)
• Karen Smidt - Women's At-Large (1999)
• Karen Smidt - Spring At-Large (1999)
• Joyce Jordahl - Volleyball (1999)
• Tiffany Helmick - Softball (1999)
• Katie Hostetler-Farris - Cross Country/Track (2002)
• Teale Goble - Volleyball (2002)
• Miranda Ernst - Cross Country/Track (2003)
• Loren Hutchins - Wrestling (2003)
• Reed Doughty - Football (2003)
• Kristi Krom - Volleyball (2003)
• Reed Doughty - Football (2004)
• Vincent Jackson - Football (2004)
• Justin Zaitz - Football (2004)
• Erin Deffenbaugh - Volleyball (2004)
• Reed Doughty - Football (2005)