Student-athletes are the correct description of the young men and women who compete on an intercollegiate level for our Gaels. Our coaches challenge them to excellence in the classroom and on the playing field. When their college athletic careers are concluded, these young men and women possess the mind skills to pursue meaningful occupations.

The expectation of success as a student and as an athlete has been proven attainable over generations. Take the recently completed Spring term as an example. A large number of student-athletes completed their coursework with outstanding records of achievement and were rightfully recognized by the College, the West Coast Conference and a national group representing higher education marketers.

Specifically in 2003-04:

• ? The cumulative GPA for ALL Gael intercollegiate teams was 3.047.
  
• ? Student-athletes with a Spring GPA of 3.0 or higher numbered 124.
  
• ? Sixty-three (63) student-athletes qualified for the Dean's List in the Spring with GPAs of 3.5 or better.
  
• ? Of our 225 student-athletes, 28 percent made the Dean's List and 55 percent were Scholar Athletes with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
  
• ? Eleven (11) student-athletes were selected to WCC All-Academic teams: Kate Harden (women's tennis); Rafael Lopez (men's tennis); Joe Lanza (golf); Breanne Jackson (women's rowing); Diego Rovira and Adam Zielske (men's soccer); Jen Belzer (women's soccer); Lindsay Lopez (women's basketball); Allegra Porter (women's cross-country); Lindsey Bogason and Erin Gravert (women's volleyball). Football players Clint Wilson and Dan Cordisco earned District VIII first and second team academic accolades respectively.
  
• ? Softball player Jordann Bass was one of only four student-athletes nationwide receiving a postgraduate scholarship from the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA).

I congratulate all of these student-athletes and the people close to them who helped make such achievements possible. This includes dedicated faculty members, team moderators, coaches, and, of course, parents who encourage their children's priorities early in life.

I am proud of the programs the College and this Department have in place to promote the academic, athletic and personal development of those entrusted to us. Our student-athletes also participate in significant community outreach and receive outstanding career preparation. Assistant Athletic Director for Student Support Services Kari Montero merits special recognition for her fine work in all those areas as part of the NCAA's Life Skills program.

Our student-athletes have demonstrated in resounding style the ability to excel in several areas.

Go Gaels!