FULLERTON – Cal State Fullerton student-athletes have accomplished yet another feat over the last year, increasing the number of academic honor recipients to 49 compared to 34 the previous year.
“Our coaches are doing a tremendous job recruiting academically-prepared student-athletes that recognize the importance of success in the classroom,” Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman’s Administrator Meredith Basil said. “We have established a strong culture of academic excellence in the department through careful and proactive monitoring, in addition to new programming, aimed at ensuring we meet our timely retention and graduation goals for our student-athletes.”
Basil oversees Fullerton’s Athletics Academic Services team, which includes Gale Kirkland, Allyson Kelly, Futoshi Nakagawa and Diana Alvarez.
“Athletics Academic Services works closely with faculty, coaches and other student support offices to ensure the academic success of Titan student-athletes,” Basil said. “The mission of Athletics Academic Services is to provide effective academic and life skills support to assist each student-athlete in reaching his/her academic goals. Such support programs include academic advisement, academic counseling, priority registration, tutoring, study hall, grade checks, academic awards, Life Skills programming and University 115.”
For the second straight year, multiple Titans were named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII First Team as sophomore Samantha Galarza received the honor for the first time and junior Austin Diemer was recognized for the second straight year.
In addition, Diemer and Galarza were named Cal State Fullerton’s Big West Scholar Athletes of the Year.
In total, 49 Cal State Fullerton student-athletes received Academic All-Big West Conference or Academic All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation honors during the 2013-14 school year. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, have attained sophomore standing academically, and competed in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests.
“Regular communication from Athletics Academic Services staff regarding academic counseling/mentor meetings, study hall attendance and academic grade checks,” Basil said helps student-athletes and coaches monitor school obligations. “In addition, our staff communicates at least once a semester regarding the academic progress of every student-athlete on the team. The Athletics Academic Services staff works proactively and collaboratively with our coaches to ensure student-athletes recognize the value of academic success.”
In addition to academic honors, senior student-athletes from each of Cal State Fullerton’s numerous athletic teams were recognized and thanked by the athletic department at the annual Student Graduation Reception at the Titan Alumni House in May.
In total during the 2013-14 academic year, 60 current and former Titan student-athletes received their respective degrees in 26 varying majors. In addition,
CSF student-athletes continued to improve their overall GPA.
All teams were above the NCAA Multi-Year Academic Progress Rate (930) except for men’s basketball, which did demonstrate academic improvement. The women’s cross-country, women’s golf and women’s tennis programs scored perfect 1,000’s for the 2012-13 single-year APR, and all teams are projected to be above the 930 multi-year APR benchmark for 2013-14.
“We hope to grow the number of honorees, in addition to increased contributions from our student-athletes to the community and beyond,” Basil said of goals for next year. “Our goal is truly to develop ‘Champions in Life through Academics and Life’”.
Academic All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Women’s Indoor Track (3)
Katie Wilson, Sr., Kinesiology
Alexandria Stewart, So., Biological Science
Ashley Sims, Sr., Psychology
2013-14 Big West Academic All-Conference - Fall
Volleyball (4)
Bre Moreland, Sr., Public Relations, Mission Viejo, Calif.^
Leah Best, Sr., Communications/Public Relations, Marietta, GA
Julie Consani, Jr., Communications/Public Relations, Newport Beach, Calif.*
Abbie Miraldi, Sr, Political Science, Grass Valley, Calif.
Women’s Soccer (8)
Morgan Batcheller, So., Kinesiology and Pre-Business, Carlsbad, Calif.
Kellie Bohner, Sr., Kinesiology, Yucaipa, Calif.
Adriana Gjonovich, Jr., Biological Sciences, Cypress, Calif.*
Erica Mazeau, Sr., Kinesiology, Yorba Linda, Calif.
Chelsey Patterson, Jr., Kinesiology, Anaheim, Calif.
Kishi Smith, Sr., Communications & Entertainment, Chatsworth, Calif.
Lauren Stupin, Jr., Communications & Advertising, Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Janali West, Sr., Communications & Photo Journalism, San Diego, CA*
Men’s Soccer (3)
Mark Vasquez, Jr., Pre-Business, Fullerton, Calif.
Fermin Villalba, Jr., Kinesiology, Anaheim, Calif.
Jordan Wolff, Sr., Communications & Advertising, Anaheim, Calif.
Women’s Cross Country (3)
Katie Bathgate, JR., Kinesiology, Bloomington, CA^
Celinda Manzo, Jr., Human Services, La Mirada, Calif.
Emily Taylor, So., Undeclared, Huntington Beach, Calif.
2013-14 Big West Academic All-Conference - Winter
Women’s Basketball (1)
Alex Thomas, Sr., Health Science^
2013-14 Big West Academic All-Conference - Spring
Baseball (3)
Austin Diemer, Jr., Communications/Journalism*
David Olmedo-Barrera, So., Kinesiology
Shane Stillwagon, So., Pre-Business
Softball (3)
Samantha Galarza, So., Communications/Journalism
Lauren Mario, Sr., Kinesiology
Melissa Sechrest, So., Undeclared
Men’s Golf (1)
Ryan Tetrault, Jr., Communications*
Women’s Golf (2)
Tisha Abrea, Jr., Communications/Journalism*
Seri Lee, Jr., Communications/Public Relations*
Women’s Tennis (4)
Morgan McIntosh, Sr., Kinesiology^
Jessica Pepa, Jr., Health Science
Megan Sandford, Sr., Health Science*
Kalika Slevcove, Jr., Criminal Justice*
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field (8)
Kenneth Callinan, Jr., Kinesiology
Joshua Gordon, So., Kinesiology
Emmett Kellogg, Sr., Business Economics
Clifford King, Sr., Kinesiology^
Emmanuel Martinez, Pre-Business
T.J. Moffit, So., Kinesiology
Taylor Ros, Sr., Kinesiology^
Christopher Vega, So., Criminal Justice
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field (6)
Elizabeth Claustro, Jr., Health Science
Celinda Manzo, Jr., Human Services
Ashley Sims, Sr., Psychology
Alexandria Stewart, So., Biological Science
Ana Valdovinos, Jr., Kinesiology
Katie Wilson, Sr., Kinesiology^
^Three-time honoree
* Two-time honoree
USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
Katie Wilson (3rd consecutive
season)
2013-14 Cal State Fullerton Graduates
Baseball
Keegan Dale
Jared Deacon
Greg Velazquez
Men’s Basketball
Chris Collins
Marquis Horne
James Johnson
Michael Williams
Men’s Golf
Scott Rubzin
Men’s Soccer
Bryan Escalante
Ritchie Gonzalez
Robbie Hannon
Jordan Wolff
Men’s Cross-Country/Track & Field
Brian Aleman
Kyle Lintz
Taylor Ros
Jonathan Smith
Softball
Gabrielle Aragon
Ariel Tsuchiyama
Volleyball
Leah Best
Kristen Brandsma
Alyse Hensley
Bre Moreland
Women’s Basketball
Brianna Barfield
Mya Olivier
Alex Thomas
Women’s Soccer
Kellie Bohner
Summer Chavez
Lindsey Maricic
Erica Mazeau
Nikki McCants
Lauren Mellano
Katie Pulliam
Kishi Smith
Janali West
Women’s Tennis
Morgan McIntosh
Rebekah Penner
Women’s Track & Field
Katie Bathgate
Tenia Sebastian
Ashley Sims