Athletic success and academic achievement can go together.
Just ask the Lower Columbia College Red Devils.
The Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) office has announced the winner of the 2018-2019 President’s Cup, and Lower Columbia College has earned the conference’s top honor for academic achievement. The President’s Cup is presented in two divisions for institutions who offer eight or more sports (Frank Bosone Division) and to institutions who offer seven or fewer sports (Dick McClain Division).
Lower Columbia took the McClain Division Cup and Mt. Hood Community College won the
Bosone Division Cup. The Divisions are named after former NWAC Executive Directors.
Lower Columbia College Athletic Director Kirc Roland is thrilled to receive the news
after the Red Devils finished second in last year’s President’s Cup and third the
year before. “It’s always been our goal to be honored for our academic success and
this just shows how hard our student-athletes, coaches, staff, and instructors work
to insure that Red Devils can achieve in the classroom,” said Roland.
Even more impressive is that LCC has won the Athletic Director Cup for three straight
seasons. The NWAC Athletic Directors Cup goes to the school that earns the most points
for region finishes, region championships, NWAC tournament finishes, and NWAC championships.
“An NWAC school has never won an Athletic Directors Cup and the Presidents Cup in the same year,” said Roland. “This goes to show that you don’t have to compromise academics when trying to compete in college athletics at the highest level.”
The Presidents Cup points are given for student-athletes who complete 36 credits, 72 credits, complete a certificate, and/or earn an Associate of Arts degree. Student-athletes’ GPA determine the amount of points awarded.
Lower Columbia College had a cumulative GPA for all six sports of 2.82. Ten Red Devils athletes earned 4.0 GPA’s.
Roland says it’s definitely a team effort. “Our coaches recruit talented young people who understand the importance of an education. The administration shows support by making sure the athletic department has a full-time academic advisor and study table monitor. The LCC Foundation has funded scholarships and support for the study table. The LCC Booster Club and other benefactors support scholarships. And the student-athletes themselves have bought into our insistence that school comes first and from that championships can still be won.”
“There are so many people that can take incredible pride in what we have going at LCC,” said Roland.