THE CLARION ONLINE A first amendment publication of Citrus College, Glendora California

Program emphasizes the ‘A’ in athletics ByRobertLucero,CorrespondentWednesday,April6,2011

TheScholar‐BallerrecognitionprogramacknowledgesthebestperformancesbyCitrusCollegeathletesonthefield,butmostimportantly,intheclassroom.ThetitleScholar‐Ballerisgiventothoseathleteswhomaintaina3.0GPAorhigherwhilecontinuingtorepresenttheOwlsonthefield.Duringthefall2007semester,whichwasthefirstsemestertheprogramwasactive,15OwlsearnedthestatusofScholar‐Baller.For2010‐11,69OwlsaredesignatedScholar‐Ballers,thehighestnumberthatCitrushasproceededsincetheprogramwasimplemented.C.KeithHarrison,Ed.D,whoplayedfootballatWestTexasA&MUniversityandearnedscholarathletehonors,initiatedtheScholar‐Ballerprogrambackin1995.Thosewhoearnthetitlearegivenahat,shirt,andaThinkManorThinkWomanpatchstitchedontotheiruniforms.Theyarealsocalledoutforhonorsatahomegame.

Throughoutthecountry,Scholar‐Ballerathletesfromcommunitycollegestouniversities,wearthepatch.WhenCitrusstudentathletesapplytotransfer,theirScholar‐Ballertitleisanindicatorthatthesestudentathletesarecompetitorsintheclassroomandonthefield.Citrusfirstcameacrosstheprograminspring2007whileathleticscounselorAliciaLongyear,DeanofAthleticsJodyWise,andphysicaleducationprofessorMaryBrawnerwereattendingaCaliforniaCommunityCollegeAthleticAssociationmeeting.DuringthatCCCAAmeeting,Harrison,alongwithScholar‐BallerscofoundersJeanBoydandCliffParks,gaveapresentationontheprogram.ThethreeCitrusrepresentativesdecidedtointroduceittoCitrus.WisesaidtheteachersandcoachesatCitruswerereallyimpressedandsawitasawaytoputmoreemphasisintoacademia."Alotof[studentathletes]focusprimarilyontheirsport.Thentheytrytosqueezeinacademicsandpart‐timejobsandallofthosekindsofthings,"Wisesaid."Wewantedtomakesurewehadapushwithinourdepartmenttostresstheacademicpartforthemandtorewardtheireffortsintheclassroom."Longyear,whoisthedirectoroftheCitruschapter,saidtheimplementationoftheprogramwentwell.“Wedidn'thavetotwisttoomanyarms,"shesaid.

Aformercollegestudentathlete,Longyeardesribedherselfas"morelikea2.8,2.9"student."Iwasneveracademicallyineligibleoranythinglikethat,butIneverhadanythinglikethistostrivefor,"shesaid."Forsomeonelikeme,thiswouldhavebeenhuge."ChristinaKinney,fornursingmajorandbasketballforward,beingaScholar‐Ballerisarealchallenge."Mostpeopledon'twanttostudybecauseyou'retiredandyoujustwanttosleep,butyouhavetofightthroughit,"shesaid.Kinneysaidthatgoodgrades

reflectwhoanindividualisandthosegradesshowhowhardworkingthatpersonis,whichiswhatkeepsherperseveringasastudentathlete."Itmeanssomething,"Wisesaid."Itmeansyou'reachampionintheclassroomaswellasinthesportthatyou'redoing."©2011TheClarion