FREEPORT — Based on academic excellence, 17 Highland Community College student-athletes are honored as NJCAA All-Academic Team recipients. For student-athletes to qualify for this prestigious academic award, the individual must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours in the 2020-21 academic year with a minimum 3.60 GPA. In addition to the individual Academic All-Americans, four Highland teams were named NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year. Teams must have a minimum 3.0 GPA for the academic year to qualify for the team award. 

NJCCA All-Academic First Team: 4.0 GPA 

●  Alena Asche (Durand) 

●  Jenna Diehl (Freeport) 

●  Lexis Evenson (Dakota) 

●   Kierra Schulz (Lena) 

NJCAA All-Academic Second Team: 3.80-3.99 GPA 

●  Margaret Bald (Freeport) 

●  Tia Clark (Pearl City) 

●  Alexander Cortez (South Beloit) 

NJCAA All-Academic Third Team: 3.60-3.79 GPA 

●  Cameron Bardell (Freeport) 

●  Josie Bunker (Freeport) 

●  Kaylyn Field (Dakota) 

●  Jackson Heimer (Freeport) 

●  Ahlasia Kloepping (Freeport) 

●  Paige Middendorf (East Dubuque) 

●  Madilyn Schultz (Lena) 

●  Connor Shoemaker (Freeport) 

●  Justin Warren (Chicago) 

●  Madison Zadro (Winnipeg, Manitoba) 

NJCAA Academic Teams of the Year: 

●  Volleyball — 3.68 

●  Women’s Basketball — 3.02 

●  Softball - 3.13 

●  Golf - 3.29 

For more on Highland Cougar athletics, visit highland.edu/athletics. The fall semester starts on Aug. 16. To get registered, go to highland.edu/new-students or call 815-235-6121.