Scholar Athletes Scoring Big at Mendocino College

Contact: Ross Beck, Director of Public Information & Marketing
T: 707-468-3012, Fax: 707-468-3008, Email: rbeck@mendocino.cc.ca.us

File: NR-Student Pepsi Athletes
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Scholar Athletes Scoring Big at Mendocino College
5th Consecutive Year for Academic Excellence

Each year, 18 highly talented scholar athletes from the 25,000 students participating in California athletics are singled out for this honor. Nine male and nine female athletes will be presented with this award at Community College League of California's 2005 Commission on Athletics (COA) 8th Annual Convention being held April 7-8 in Reno, Nevada.

"We know of no other California community college that has achieved this recognition this many times, let alone consecutively," exclaims interim Athletic Director Skip Hunter. "We are very proud of Heidi and wish her the best as she continues to pursue her four-year degree."

The Pepsi Scholar Athlete Award is the highest student achievement honor awarded annually by the COA. The winners, along with the rest of the annual honor roll, are selected by the COA Awards Committee from nominations made by community colleges throughout California.

"Congratulations are also in order for Head Volleyball Coach Ed Schweitzer and his Volleyball team for having one of the highest GPA's in the State," states interim Director of Athletics Skip Hunter. "The 2004 Volleyball team has been nominated for the "Scholar Team Award" with a combined 3.5 GPA among the eleven players."

In addition, Head Coach Tom Gang has proudly announced that eleven Mendocino College football sophomores made the Bay Valley Conference "Academic" all-league team. To earn this honor, the student-athlete must be a sophomore in academic and athletic standing, have completed three semesters of academic work with a minimum 3.0 GPA and competed in the college football program.

Candidates for the Pepsi Scholar Athlete Award must carry a minimum GPA of 3.5 and must also show outstanding leadership as an athlete, student, or in other college and community activities, as well as have participated in two seasons of sport at a California community college.

The Scholar Team Award is the highest academic team achievement given annually by the COA. All team members must have excelled academically with a total GPA of 3.0 or higher. The team should have demonstrated better than average accomplishments in intercollegiate athletic competition.

Past Mendocino College Pepsi Scholars include Lydia McGinn, 2003Cross Country/Track and Field; Angela Mantele, 2002 Volleyball; Erin Furlong, 2001 Softball, Cross Country/Track & Field; and Jesse Weaver, 2000 Baseball. Mendocino College was also recognized for having two Pepsi Scholar Teams in 2001; Men's Basketball and Men & Women's Cross Country.

News Release - February 22, 2006

MENDOCINO COLLEGE, 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah, CA 95482

Contact: Ross Beck, Director of Public Information & Marketing
T: 707-468-3012, Fax: 707-468-3008, Email: rbeck@mendocino.edu

File: NR-Scholar Team
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Football selected “Scholar Team Recipient” for California

UKIAH, CA — The California Commission on Athletics (COA) announced February 9 that the Mendocino College 2004/5 Football Team has been selected as the “2004/5 Scholar Team Recipient” for football for the State of California. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the COA has recognized a Mendocino College athlete or team for academic and athletic excellence.

“This is a special award as it combines the academic and athletic endeavors of all members of the team. This is an honor that should be the objective of all of our sports teams and one that we can be extremely proud,” states COA executive director Carlyle Carter in a letter to Mendocino College.

The Scholar Team Award is the highest academic team achievement given annually by the COA, which overseas California community college athletics. All team members must have excelled academically with a total average GPA of 3.0 or higher. The team should have demonstrated better than average accomplishments in intercollegiate athletic competition. The awards will be presented at the COA’s 9th Annual Convention being held April 5, 2006, in Sacramento, CA.

“We are extremely proud of Coach Tom Gang and our football program for receiving this honor,” said Dean of Instruction/Acting Chief Instruction Officer Meridith Randall. “Mendocino College values the achievements of student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom. Our football players are hard-working young men who deserve recognition.”

"It's an honor we can be truly proud of,” states Athletic Director Skip Hunter. “ We stress the word student in the term student-athlete!"

Mendocino College scholar-athletes and scholar-teams have been recognized eight times by the COA:

• 2004-5 Pepsi Scholar Team: Football
• 2004 Pepsi Scholar Athlete Honor Roll: Heidi Schweitzer, Volleyball
• 2003 Pepsi Scholar Athlete Honor Roll: Lydia McGinn, Cross Country/Track& Field
• 2002 Pepsi Scholar Athlete Honor Roll: Angela Mantele, Volleyball
• 2001 Pepsi Scholar Athlete Honor Roll: Erin Furlong, Softball
• 2001 Pepsi Scholar Team: Men's Basketball
• 2001 Pepsi Scholar Team: Women's Cross Country
• 2000 Pepsi Scholar Athlete Honor Roll: Jesse Weaver, Baseball

The 2004/5 Scholar Team Recipient for Football members are (name/high school): Daulton Abernathy, Ukiah; Christopher Bautista, Terra Nova; J. Ryon Baxter, Chester; Geoff Bowker, Petaluma; James Bradshaw, Woodland; Phillip Brooks, Vallejo; Dustin Brown, Potter Valley; Andrew Campbell, Willits; Chris Cavender, Maria Carrillo; Bob Clark, Ukiah; William Clark, Woodford (KY); Jason Comer, Eureka; Jo'Dane Craigman, Miami (FL); Frank Crawford, Ukiah; Curt Crowder, Fort Bragg; Philip Davis, Las Plumas; Geoff Drake, Red Bluff; Adrian Dunn, Healdsburg; Jared Dunn, Healdsburg; John Duran, Ukiah; Mika Edwards, Prospect; Gabe Ellis, Potter Valley; Jimmy Elmore, Ukiah; Randy Green, Ceres; Jared Gruber, Emmett (ID) ; Clinton Haglund, Central Catholic; Tony Hall, Oak Harbor (WA) ; Logan Hayes, Clear Lake; Jared Hurlbutt, South Fork; U-Gene Jackson, Vallejo; Jackie Jenkins G. Holmes, Braddock (FL); Adam Johnson, South Fork; Robert Kirvin, Shasta; Franklin Lawton, South Miami (FL) ; Kyle McCaffrey, Lincoln; Irvin McCallum, Ukiah; LaDon McCray, Washington Union; James Nelson, Kelseyville; Joel Perryman, Vallejo; Josh Rayburn, Lower Lake; Frank Rovito, Sutter; Mikal Sandberg, Ceres; Derek Schepens, Woodland; Kyle Shasteen, Seattle (WA) ; Matt Smith, Upper Lake; Matt Stiles, Willits; Rory Tidemann, Healdsburg; Chris Torres, Central Catholic; Anthony Vrendenburg, McNary (OR) ; Desante Walker, Calvary Temple; Rodney Wasche, Perham (MN) ; and Jevon Wilson, Miami (FL).

Additional information is available on line at http://www.coasports.org and www.mendocino.edu

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Scholar Athletes Scoring Big at Mendocino College5th Consecutive Year for Academic Excellence

Scholar Athletes Scoring Big at Mendocino College
5th Consecutive Year for Academic Excellence