Athletics: LBCC earns three CCCAA state Scholar Athlete awards

Long Beach City College athletics is proud to announce that two student athletes and one team will be honored by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) with scholar athlete awards for the 2010-11 academic year.

Kyle Clark of men’s basketball and Sarah Agopian of women’s water polo were both named to the CCCAA Scholar Athlete Honor Roll while the 2011 LBCC men’s volleyball team was named the Scholar Team for its sport. They will be honored at the Celebration of Scholar Athletes Luncheon during the 15th Annual CCCAA Convention on Wednesday (Apr 4) at the San Mateo Marriott Hotel in San Mateo.

LBCC is the only college in the state this year to have two individuals and a team honored with scholar awards.

“The academic successes of our student athletes are just as important as the success of our teams on the field,” said Interim Dean of Student Affairs, Kinesiology and Athletics Connie Sears. “The academic successes are due in large part to the alignment with the student success initiatives in place at Long Beach City College. The balance between athletics and academics is a crucial component to overall success at the college.”

Clark, a member of the 2010-11 men’s basketball team, earned a 3.61 grade point average. On the court, he was a second-team All-South Coast Conference South Division selection at center his sophomore season. Clark, originally out of Lakewood High School, recently completed his junior season on the men’s basketball team at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS).

Agopian, the 2010-11 LBCC Female Athlete of the Year, was just as impressive in the classroom and in the pool. Agopian carried a 3.64 GPA as she helped lead the women’s water polo team to a second-place state championships finish in 2010. On her way, she earned All-American, All-State Tournament, and All-Southern California honors. Agopian was also named Southern California Most Valuable Player as well as South Coast Conference Co-Player of the Year.

Agopian, originally out of Fullerton High School, is currently attending the University of California (Berkeley). She is also a member of the Cal Bears women’s water polo practice squad.

As a group, the 2011 LBCC men’s volleyball team compiled a 3.26 GPA to earn the Scholar Team Award. On the court, the Vikings won a Western State Conference title and advanced to the state championship semifinals.

Five members of the 2011 squad earned scholarships and are currently attending and playing at four-year universities. Those individuals moving on were Chris Austin (UC Irvine), Matt Black (Long Beach State University), Kristopher Johnson (California Baptist University), Parker Del Re (Concordia University), and Nick MacRae (Long Beach State University).

“The 2011 LBCC men’s volleyball team was dedicated to pursuing both athletic and academic achievements,” said former men’s volleyball head coach and current Interim Athletic Director Randy Totorp. “While bringing home Long Beach City College’s seventh men’s volleyball conference championship over the last eight years and ending the season in the CCCAA State Semifinals, they also finished the semester with a cumulative team GPA of 3.26.  As a coach and educator, I am proud to have been their coach and feel privileged to have spent the year working with a group of young men committed to athletic and academic excellence.”

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

Candidates for the 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 CCCAA. 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.