INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced its 2025-26 Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award recipients on Wednesday. This year, the league recognized a record 780 student-athletes across the conference for their academic excellence.

Named in honor of former Lewis University President Brother James Gaffney, FSC, the award is presented annually to student-athletes competing in GLVC-sponsored sports who earn a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during the academic year.

Representing Newman as an associate member of the GLVC in women's bowling, Paighton Crumley earned Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award honors for maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average throughout the 2025-26 academic year.

The total eclipses last year's record of 684 honorees by 96 recipients and marks a 14-percent increase. The 780 distinguished scholars represent the highest total since the award's inception in 2016-17 and marks the fourth consecutive year the league has recognized more than 500 student-athletes.