Citrus College Athletics Program Prepares Students for Success

By Dr. Patricia A. Rasmussen, Citrus College Governing Board Member

When the California Community College Athletic Association indefinitely postponed all competition and practice in mid-March due to COVID-19, student athletes throughout California were understandably disappointed. They would not be spending the spring semester working with their coaches, developing their skills or excelling in their sports. Despite the disruption, however, Citrus College student athletes have continued to shine. As Glendora's representative on the Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees, I am proud to share some of their recent successes.

First, I would like to highlight those student athletes who have committed to playing at the next level. Since late April, 11 Citrus College students have accepted scholarship offers to continue their education and compete at four-year colleges and universities. Of the 11 who made commitments, four will be moving on to NCAA Division I schools, five will be moving on to NCAA II schools and two will be moving on to National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) schools.

Helping student athletes matriculate is one of the main goals of the Citrus College Kinesiology and Athletics Division. In fact, the process begins as soon as they join a sports program. Incoming athletes are required to attend the college's new student athlete orientation, and they are expected to complete all assessment requirements. In addition, all athletes must complete a student educational plan each semester.

Communication is another important aspect of the matriculation process. Citrus College coaches help student athletes reach out to four-year colleges and universities to help them determine which one would be the best fit. At the same time, it is common for four-year coaches to contact student athletes to gauge their interest. In the end, anywhere from 40 to 60 Citrus College student athletes commit to four-year colleges and universities every year.

Perhaps one of the reasons the kinesiology and athletics division has been so successful with helping students transfer is the emphasis it places on academics. To maintain their eligibility and priority registration, a student athlete must remain in good academic standing. The college offers a variety of resources, such as a full-time athletics counselor and an Athletic Student Success Study Center, to help them do just that.

The nationally recognized Scholar Baller program is another way the college's athletics program promotes academics. An initiative that seeks to bridge the gap between education and sports, Scholar Ballers was first introduced at Citrus College during the 2007-2008 academic year. To qualify as a Scholar Baller, a student athlete must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher. This semester, 118 Citrus College student athletes achieved this impressive feat.

Juggling academic responsibilities with the demands of a sport is not easy. When students fully dedicate themselves to their dual roles of scholar and athlete, the results are extraordinary. Although a global pandemic may have interrupted the spring athletic season, I am so proud of the continued success of Citrus College's student athletes, and I look forward to sharing many more achievements in the future.