JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Year five for the Carson-Newman Eagle Scholars program saw a record number of Carson-Newman student athletes named to the school's athletic department honor roll. 

Carson-Newman University will welcome 177 student-athletes into its Eagle Scholars Program during its annual awards ceremony Thursday, Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Holt Fieldhouse. The group marks the program's fourth class inducted since it began in 2013, and, by far its largest. 

Last year, the program set a record with 160 honorees. This year's 177-member class is an increase of 11 percent.  

The Eagle Scholars Program recognizes academic achievements among Carson-Newman student-athletes. To become an Eagle Scholar, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Eagle Scholars receive a patch to wear on their uniforms during regular season competition.  This year also marks the first year that the program also includes the introduction of the Gold Scholars. These honorees will receive a golden patch to wear on their uniforms for maintaining a GPA higher than 3.75. There are 66 such gold scholars in this year's program. 

Carson-Newman is the only school in the South Atlantic Conference to offer such a program.

It was the teamwork of Gloria Walker and Amy Humphrey, members of the University's Student Success Center that helped to bring the program together in 2013.

"I'm excited about our fifth Annual Eagle Scholars Ceremony as we highlight the academic accomplishments of our student-athletes," Walker said. "Every sports team showed an increase in the number of Eagle Scholars. This is a true testament to the commitment and dedication of our student-athletes, our coaches and our faculty and staff as they achieve academic excellence."

Following an inaugural membership of 72, the program in 2014 honored 93 students during its ceremony as qualified Eagle Scholars. Membership in the program increased 29 percent from year one to year two, and 38.7 percent from year two to year three.  Overall, it's a 146 percent increase in the program from its inaugural year to now. 

Thursday's proceedings will be streamed live at cneagles.com/live.