Each spring, Graceland University honors the student-athletes who have stood out throughout the year at the annual Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Banquet. Student-athletes are nominated by their respective coaches and then voted on by all the coaches in Graceland's athletics department.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) named Graceland University Baseball student-athletes among the 2019 All-Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) named Graceland University Softball student-athletes among the 2019 All-Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2019 Daktronics-NAIA Men's Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Team, and it includes student-athletes from Graceland University. In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended two full years as a non-transfer or one full year as a transfer student.

Graceland University Softball's Dakota Buttrey was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) Player of the Week Monday, Apr. 22. Buttrey smashed five homeruns in five straight games this week, a feat that had yet to be accomplished in the NAIA this season. She built upon her new career homerun record, now sitting at 31, and is the new Graceland University record holder for RBIs in a season with 44. Buttery recorded 14 RBIs and 10 runs on 13 hits on the week. Each week, award winners are nominated by members of the Heart and selected by a voting panel of member institution Sports Information Directors.

Graceland University Softball's Olivia Fluehr was named one of the Newcomers of the Year by the Heart of America Athletic Conference. A senior pitcher from Illinois, Fluehr finished the regular season with 15 wins, nine losses and two saves. She recorded 84 strikeouts and finished with an ERA of 2.24. At the plate, Fluehr posted a .567 slugging percentage with eight homeruns and 45 RBIs on the season.

Graceland University Football student-atheletes were named to the 2019 National Football Foundation (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society by the NFF and the College Football Hall of Fame. This is the first time in program history that members of the Graceland Yellowjackets football team have received this honor. The Hampshire Honor Society is comprised of student-athletes from all divisions of college football who maintained at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average during their college careers. Members must have completed their final year of athletic eligibility and be of senior academic standing.

Graceland University Track and Field's Kristol Vanterpool qualified for nationals in the triple jump with her "B" standard mark of 11.53 meters. She won the event by just over 0.60 meters.

Graceland University Track and Field's Payton Young qualified for nationals in the long jump with his mark of 7.13 meters, winning the event by a whopping 0.15 meters.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Men's Volleyball student-athletes among the 2019 All-Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2018-19 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete Team and includes student-athletes from Graceland University. In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended two full years as a non-transfer or one full year as a transfer student.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Men's Basketball student-athletes among the 2019 All Heart of America Athletic Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University Gadets competative dance team's Nicole Fry received All-American recognition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). She is Graceland's first-ever dance All-American. To achieve NAIA All-America or honorable mention status, student-athletes participate in a tryout judged by officials, and All-Americans are determined by the scores. The Competative Cheer and Dance Coaches Association officers then confirm the list of scores and athletes. The very first NAIA competitive dance All-American teams were announced in 2017.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Women's Basketball student-athletes among the 2019 All Heart of America Athletic Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) officially announced Graceland student-athletes among the qualifiers for the 2019 NAIA Men's and Women's Indoor Track and Field National Championships.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) officially announced Graceland student-athletes among the qualifiers for the 2019 NAIA Wrestling National Championships hosted by Catch Des Moines. "I'm proud of the guys who have competed well when it mattered most, and it makes me excited to see what they can accomplish at the national level," said Zack Mullins, Graceland University head wrestling coach. Each conference champion in their respective weight class earns an automatic berth to that national championship. Additional automatic berths were determined by using the final regular-season coaches' poll. In addition to the automatic qualifiers, each conference was allowed three at-large individuals from any weight class. The remainder of the 240-wrestler field was selected by the national ranking committee.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Wrestling student-athletes among the 2019 All Heart of America Athletic Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University Track and Field's Lexus Lovan bettered her own school record in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.74 at the Last Chance Meet hosted by Wartburg College. Lovan also won the long jump with a leap of 5.83M.

Graceland University Wrestling's Brennan Swafford was been named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Wrestler of the Week Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. Swafford garnered the recognition following an individual championship title at 165 lbs at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament. He was also named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Tournament. Currently, Swafford is 20-7 overall and is ranked No. 9 at 165 lbs in the NAIA. At the tournament, Swafford received an opening round bye. Then, in the quarterfinal match, Swafford took down Tyler Price (Baker) by Tech Fall (.5 5:55 (15-0)). He then advanced to the semifinal round where he won by decision (7-2) over teammate Drew Sams. As Swafford advanced into the championship match, he defeated Ryan Niven (Grand View) by decision (8-7). Swafford handed Niven, who is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA at 165 lbs. -- his second loss of the season.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Track and Field student-athletes among the 2019 All Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University Football senior offensive lineman Braden Smith was named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America NAIA Football Team as honored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He is the first Graceland football player to receive the distinction. Smith boasts a 4.0 GPA and is double majoring in agricultural business and business administration. He took every snap at center and long snapper during the 2018 season for the Yellowjackets.

Graceland University Football senior offensive lineman, Braden Smith, was named to the 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District (District 3) Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Football student-athletes among the 2018 All-Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University Men's Cross Country's Lucky Lovan was named a 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status to qualify for this honor.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Women's Volleyball student-athletes among the 2018 All-Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University Football's Preston Compton set the Graceland University career passing record of 8,041 yards during his final game and Graceland's senior day Nov. 10. Passing 289 yards and connecting on 29 of 53 attempts against Culver-Stockton, Compton broke the record for total career passing yards. He totals 8,041, surpassing Clayton Braddock who totaled 8,018 career passing yards. Compton, a three-year starting quarterback, was a 2017 All-Heart of America Athletic Conference honorable mention player. He threw for 1,847 yards during his sophomore season with nine passing touchdowns. His junior year, he compiled 3,319 yards and 19 touchdowns in the air. He finished his senior season with a total of 2,875 yards with 13 touchdowns. Besides the Graceland career passing record, he also holds Graceland's single-game passing record of 501 yards, which he set on Sept. 23, 2017, against Central Methodist University. During his junior season, Compton also set two individual NAIA records. He set the single-game record for total offensive plays by an individual with 103 total plays against No. 2 Baker University. In that same game, Graceland set the NAIA record for total offensive plays with 124. Compton also set the individual offensive plays per game record, averaging 72.2 plays per game. He surpassed the previous record set in 1983 by Kevin Kott of Eastern New Mexico with 69.0 (690 in 10 games).

Graceland University Womens Basketball's Sarai Rodriguez was been named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week Monday, Nov. 5. Rodriguez helped guide the Yellowjackets to a 3-0 record during a week in which Graceland played three games in three days. Graceland posted victories over Emmaus Bible College (93-57), Stephens College (103-47), and Cottey College (77-62). In the three games, Rodriguez averaged 25.7 points/game while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor, including 47.8 percent from three-point range. Against Emmaus, Rodriguez went 9-for-13 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to score a game-high 29 points. The senior guard added six rebounds, four steals and four assists in the game. In the second game of the week against Stephens, Rodriguez continued to be a threat for the Yellowjackets recording 30 points in the victory. She went 10-for-13 from the floor and was a perfect 4-for-4 from downtown. Rodriguez rounded out the week with 18 points against Cottey College. She also came up with five steals in the win. On the year, she averages 24.0 points/game which is seventh overall in the NAIA rankings. First in total scoring at 96 total points and second in three-pointers made (13).

Graceland University Football's Evaristo Casimiro was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Peru State College Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Heart Game of the Week. Casimiro played a key role in the Yellowjackets 36-33 victory. He compiled a career-high 13 tackles in the win, which included eight solo tackles. He marked three tackles for a loss, both of the Yellowjackets sacks and forced a fumble.

Graceland University Women's Soccer's Mikayla Whitmer has been selected to third team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference. Whitmer has been a rock and key member of the Yellowjackets backline in the center back position. "Mikayla is the rock at the back and has had a tremendous impact on our program," said Graceland University Women's Soccer Head Coach Ozzie White. "She has been a four-year starter and really deserves this accolade her senior year. Congratulations, Mikayla!"

The 2018-19 Street & Smith's College Men's Basketball Yearbook has selected Graceland University senior forward Will Nelson as a second team preseason All-American. Nelson was just one of 29 NAIA men's basketball players recognized by the publication. Nelson, a standout forward for Graceland, helped the Yellowjackets to the 2018 NAIA DI Men's Basketball National Championship and the programs first-ever title. He averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the floor. He pulled down 260 rebounds, including 108 on the offensive glass. Following the 2017-18 season, Nelson was 15th in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game (2.84).