The UCSD athletic program honored several of the outstanding academics within its ranks at an April 22 luncheon celebrating National Student-Athlete Day. Neil Kalra, Emily Gray, Cameron Jackson, Katie McGann, Denise Bogard, Jeremy Cookson, Chris Mortimer, Samantha Wong, Scott Destafney and Jennie Wilson were recognized for their achievements within their respective sports as well as academic achievement and community service.
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National Student-Athlete Day was created by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports along with the Center for the Study of Sport in Society, and is co-sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Federation of State High School Associations. According to UCSD Athletic Director Earl W. Edwards, more than 300,000 student-athletes were recognized last year.
Women’s volleyball player Wilson, an economics and mathematics major with a 3.53 GPA, was the student speaker for the event, and she expressed her view about the keys to success of the UCSD student-athletes.
“”Despite the fact that people say that other schools are more talented and they have faster athletes, stronger athletes, we have the most dedicated athletes, and I think that shows in terms of academics and athletics,”” she said.
Outside of individual dedication, the support system that allows the student-athletes to succeed, including coaches, athletic administrators, faculty and university administrators were also on hand for the event.
“”There is support among faculty and staff at this school, and it makes you feel a lot better as an athlete knowing there is internal support,”” said McGann, a political science major with a 3.85 GPA. “”It’s really nice seeing all the professors here. They outnumbered us today.””
Despite the absence of athletic scholarships, the athletes at UCSD still receive a substantial benefit from the time that they spend within the program.
“”It’s an honor to be playing college athletics, and so to be able to do that and still be at UCSD has been a great thing,”” said Cookson, an electrical engineering major with a 3.76 GPA.
The excellence assembled to celebrate National Student-Athlete Day brought with it an impressive list of community service achievements as well. From working with elementary school students, at soup kitchens, in beach clean-ups, or an any number of the other venues where UCSD athletes are serving their community, the 10 honorees not only deserved to be recognized for putting “”the ‘student’ in student-athlete,”” as the program touts, but for distinguishing themselves as examples of what a UCSD student-athlete can be.
