Army West Point Athletics
Andon Thomas Named Scholar-Athlete of the Year by AWPAA Academic Support Team
May 28, 2026 | Football, General
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point Athletics Association's Academic Support Team named Andon Thomas as its 2025-26 Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Cadet Andon Thomas has consistently demonstrated excellence across all pillars at USMA. Ranked 45th in his class overall, Cadet Thomas was a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award, recognizing a player's collective academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
A team captain, started at inside linebacker in every game this season, and he led the team in total tackles (113), solo tackles (66), and had five total tackles for loss. Cadet Thomas has logged 10+ tackles in five games this season, including a season-high 14 tackles in the season opener against Tarleton State and 10 tackles versus Air Force and 12 against Navy.
He entered the season being named to the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, Cadet Thomas has lived up to his billing on the gridiron.
Cadet Thomas's academic performance is equally stellar. A Chemical Engineering major, CDT Thomas has earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.985. His instructors rave about his exceptional classroom performance. One professor offered that:
"CDT Andon Thomas has performed exceptionally well in one of the most challenging courses offered at the Academy, CH485 – Heat & Mass Transfer. He has routinely performed at the top of the class, currently earning an average of 94% [through 11/19] in a course that averages 82-85%. He is attentive in class, studies hard outside of class due to his athletic commitments, and contributes to in-class discussion and group work in the laboratory. He is the most well-rounded chemical engineering cadet that I have taught in seven years at the Academy."
Another professor shared that Cadet Thomas
"…consistently contribute[s] to our classroom discussions with nuanced, well-reasoned, and well-communicated input. His leadership in the classroom sets the example for other athletes and pushes them to exceed the standard as well."
Militarily, Cadet Thomas served as the Second Regiment, Second Battalion Commander, and he carries a 3.536 military program GPA. Like his professors, CDT Thomas' chain-of-command lauds his performance in the military pillar. For instance, his tactical officer offered that CDT Thomas is:
"a leader within 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment as much as he is a leader on the Football Team…Although CDT Thomas is frequently away from the Battalion due to his commitments with the Football Team, he is a consistently positive role-model for the underclassmen. When the Battalion seriously underperformed during the SAMI in October, CDT Thomas led the unit to retrain on uniform and barracks standards. This culminated in a successful BN-level SAMI 'recertification' for the following A-Weekend, which was observed and commended by the Brigade Tactical Officer. CDT Thomas was tactful yet decisive in this endeavor."
Additionally, CDT Thomas is a standout in the physical pillar, even off the football field, having earned a 3.674 physical program GPA. On the fall Army Fitness Test, he scored a 499/500, the highest score of any male cadet in his company and on the battalion staff.
Finally, CDT Thomas demonstrates high character. He leads efforts to visit VA hospitals and homes, routinely supports the Hudson Valley Region Special Olympics, and provides support to the local community.
Cadet Andon Thomas has consistently demonstrated excellence across all pillars at USMA. Ranked 45th in his class overall, Cadet Thomas was a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award, recognizing a player's collective academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership.
A team captain, started at inside linebacker in every game this season, and he led the team in total tackles (113), solo tackles (66), and had five total tackles for loss. Cadet Thomas has logged 10+ tackles in five games this season, including a season-high 14 tackles in the season opener against Tarleton State and 10 tackles versus Air Force and 12 against Navy.
He entered the season being named to the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, Cadet Thomas has lived up to his billing on the gridiron.
Cadet Thomas's academic performance is equally stellar. A Chemical Engineering major, CDT Thomas has earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.985. His instructors rave about his exceptional classroom performance. One professor offered that:
"CDT Andon Thomas has performed exceptionally well in one of the most challenging courses offered at the Academy, CH485 – Heat & Mass Transfer. He has routinely performed at the top of the class, currently earning an average of 94% [through 11/19] in a course that averages 82-85%. He is attentive in class, studies hard outside of class due to his athletic commitments, and contributes to in-class discussion and group work in the laboratory. He is the most well-rounded chemical engineering cadet that I have taught in seven years at the Academy."
Another professor shared that Cadet Thomas
"…consistently contribute[s] to our classroom discussions with nuanced, well-reasoned, and well-communicated input. His leadership in the classroom sets the example for other athletes and pushes them to exceed the standard as well."
Militarily, Cadet Thomas served as the Second Regiment, Second Battalion Commander, and he carries a 3.536 military program GPA. Like his professors, CDT Thomas' chain-of-command lauds his performance in the military pillar. For instance, his tactical officer offered that CDT Thomas is:
"a leader within 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment as much as he is a leader on the Football Team…Although CDT Thomas is frequently away from the Battalion due to his commitments with the Football Team, he is a consistently positive role-model for the underclassmen. When the Battalion seriously underperformed during the SAMI in October, CDT Thomas led the unit to retrain on uniform and barracks standards. This culminated in a successful BN-level SAMI 'recertification' for the following A-Weekend, which was observed and commended by the Brigade Tactical Officer. CDT Thomas was tactful yet decisive in this endeavor."
Additionally, CDT Thomas is a standout in the physical pillar, even off the football field, having earned a 3.674 physical program GPA. On the fall Army Fitness Test, he scored a 499/500, the highest score of any male cadet in his company and on the battalion staff.
Finally, CDT Thomas demonstrates high character. He leads efforts to visit VA hospitals and homes, routinely supports the Hudson Valley Region Special Olympics, and provides support to the local community.
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