Blue Mountain Community College volleyball, women’s soccer and men’s soccer student-athletes were honored with the Northwest Athletic Conference’s (NWAC) Fall Academic Excellence Award for outstanding academic excellence in addition to their athletic prowess.
Abigail Ives, a sophomore setter from Eagle, Idaho, was awarded the honor for volleyball, Olivia Castellanos Luna, a sophomore midfielder from Irrigon, was awarded the honor for women’s soccer, and Esgar Garcia Avila, a sophomore defender from Hermiston, was awarded the honor for men’s soccer.
Qualifications for recognition by the NWAC are to be a sophomore in eligibility, have a minimum of 36 credits earned and a 3.25 cumulative GPA.
“The BMCC Athletic program is designed to provide a positive influence in developing the studentathlete’s mind, body and character,” said Dawn DiFuria McClendon, BMCC Director of Athletics, Outreach & Student Life. “Students participating in athletic activities at Blue Mountain Community College are required to be full-time students and are expected to make satisfactory progress toward completion of their educational goals.”
BMCC Athletics has three pillars to which student-athletes are held: 1) academic 2) character 3) athleticism.
“We use these as a basis for recruiting, conduct and professional academic and athletic growth,” DiFuria McClendon said. “This award is a testament to all three.”
