THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.—The number keeps growing as 196 Cal Lutheran student-athletes were recognized for their academic accomplishments at the 16th Annual Scholar-Athlete Society Induction which took place Saturday morning inside Gilbert Arena. The 196 breaks last year's total of 190.
In 2003, Elaine Benditson inspired the concept and the Cal Lutheran Scholar-Athlete Society was created to acknowledge the academic achievements of CLU athletes. Cal Lutheran believes it is important to give special emphasis to those students who are competing rigorously to achieve excellence in the classroom and in their chosen sport. The Kingsmen and Regals honored during the ceremony have each proven to bring equal dedication and discipline to both the classroom and chosen fields of play.
The inaugural class had 36 inductees and continues to grow each year. The 2019 induction class of 196 is the largest in the 16-year history. Student-athletes must maintain a 3.40 or higher cumulative grade point average to be inducted to the Scholar-Athlete Society.
Today, among the 196 student-athletes, there were 16 four-year inductees, 37 third-year, 49 second-year and 94 first-time honorees.
Of the student-athletes who participated in sports in 2018-19, 62% (337 of 542) earned a 3.0 or higher fall 2018 semester cumulative grade point average (GPA). Over 35% (192) produced a 3.5 or higher fall GPA and 39 student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall semester.
The total GPA for all CLU sports teams this year in the fall was 3.25. Offering 21 intercollegiate sports, 15 of those teams produced higher team GPAs in the fall of 2018 than in the fall of 2017. Overall, 18 teams (85.7%), had a 3.0 or higher team semester GPA.
Following the annual presentation of certificates and gifts to those inducted, the Male and Female SCIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year, as chosen by the CLU Faculty Athletic Policies Committee, Austin Cole and Amanda Roberts, each stepped up to the microphone to say a few words.
Cole is a four-year scholar-athlete for the Kingsmen basketball team and a business administration major with an emphasis in management. Cole has volunteered by coaching summer camps for middle school kids and worked at Shoot360 where he trained and coached youth. After graduation, Cole will head to Europe, for a basketball tour with fellow SCIAC seniors and will play in front of professional scouts. He was also offered a spot in a training program at Epsteen & Associates. He is the 26th member of the 1,000-point club and has scored the seventh most in program history with 1,383. This year, he earned the prestigious Ted Ducey award from the SCIAC and was named Academic All-District by the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Roberts is a four-year scholar-athlete for women's volleyball and an exercise science major with an emphasis in health professions. Over the past few years, she has spent time working and volunteering with medical hospitals and surgical centers. She also volunteered with Women at Risk International for a medial mission trip in Uganda. Upon graduation, she plans on taking the MCAT and will apply to medical schools. Roberts is a member of the 2015 NCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship team. She became just the fifth Regal in program history with 1,000-plus kills and 1,000-plus digs and has the fifth-most kills with 1,060 and the fourth-most digs with 1,222. In her four-year career. She played in three NCAA tournaments, was First and Second Team All-SCIAC and SCIAC Newcomer of the Year.
Cal Lutheran attracts students from all walks of life and areas of the world. Its diversity is unique and the passion that each and every student possesses is special. For many, one of those passions is sport, in turn producing amazing student-athletes for the Kingsmen and Regals year in and year out.
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
