Gaels Recognized at WCC Year-End Ceremony
6/7/2023 8:20:00 PM | General, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Saint Mary's was well represented by its soccer programs at the WCC Year-End Awards Ceremony, with Isabella Santavicca winning the WCC Female Postgraduate Scholarship and the Men's Soccer Team receiving the WCC Represent Award for their initiatives that promote the positive WCC SAAC values of sportsmanship and community service.
At the conclusion of each academic year, the West Coast Conference announces its major individual year-end honors as a celebration of the best and brightest to represent the Conference and its member institutions.
Santavicca was honored by the conference with the Female Postgraduate Scholarship. To be eligible for a WCC Postgraduate Scholarship, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, demonstrate significant athletic contributions to his or her sport for a minimum of two years, and have a record of participation in campus or community activities.
The athlete must also submit a personal statement of intention to attend graduate or Professional school for which this scholarship would be awarded. It was the second-straight year SMC had a winner of the award after softball's Sofia Earle became the first Gael to win the WCC Postgraduate Scholarship in 2022.
After a great career on the field for the Gaels, Santavicca plans to earn a graduate degree in medicine, preferably emergency medicine. Her involvement in stroke research, medical clinics and the Crisis Text Line has given her the opportunity to see firsthand how medical and professional interventions might affect patient outcomes, which sparked her interest in medicine.
Before beginning medical school, Santavicca plans to gain practical experience working in the medical field. Through her work with the Veterans Affairs, Santavicca is passionate about promoting healthcare access for those less fortunate in the United States and enhancing the lives of those who have risked theirs for our country.
Her long-term objective is to deliver high-quality healthcare to individuals in developing nations and positively influence society at-large by promoting systemic changes to enhance health and
well-being.
SMC Men's Soccer completed over 300 hours of community services in and around campus. They helped host several events on campus such as the Saint Mary's Legacy Garden and the Pedrozzi Young Scholar Event.
They also assisted at the Saint Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter and Community Center. SMC men's soccer served as coaches and mentors in the community, coaching kids with
disabilities as part of the TopSoccer Initiative.
The Gaels adopted the coaching, leadership equity and respect program on campus, including a 12-week program to bring awareness to sexual violence on campus. The team played an integral role in the campus and surrounding community serving as exceptional ambassadors of Saint Mary's.
FULL LIST OF 2023 WCC YEAR-END MAJOR HONORS
Commissioner's Cup
BYU
Men's All-Sports Award
LMU
Women's All-Sports Award
BYU
WCC Male Mike Gilleran Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Noel Caliskan, LMU
WCC Female Mike Gilleran Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Gabby Blossom, San Diego
WCC Male Postgraduate Scholarship
Clayton Thatcher, Gonzaga
WCC Female Postgraduate Scholarship
Isabella Santavicca, Saint Mary's
WCC Male Sportsmanship Award
Ross Johnstone, San Diego
WCC Female Sportsmanship Award
San Diego Volleyball
#WCCRepresent Award
Sammy Needham, Santa Clara and Saint Mary's Men's Soccer
At the conclusion of each academic year, the West Coast Conference announces its major individual year-end honors as a celebration of the best and brightest to represent the Conference and its member institutions.
Santavicca was honored by the conference with the Female Postgraduate Scholarship. To be eligible for a WCC Postgraduate Scholarship, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, demonstrate significant athletic contributions to his or her sport for a minimum of two years, and have a record of participation in campus or community activities.
The athlete must also submit a personal statement of intention to attend graduate or Professional school for which this scholarship would be awarded. It was the second-straight year SMC had a winner of the award after softball's Sofia Earle became the first Gael to win the WCC Postgraduate Scholarship in 2022.
After a great career on the field for the Gaels, Santavicca plans to earn a graduate degree in medicine, preferably emergency medicine. Her involvement in stroke research, medical clinics and the Crisis Text Line has given her the opportunity to see firsthand how medical and professional interventions might affect patient outcomes, which sparked her interest in medicine.
Before beginning medical school, Santavicca plans to gain practical experience working in the medical field. Through her work with the Veterans Affairs, Santavicca is passionate about promoting healthcare access for those less fortunate in the United States and enhancing the lives of those who have risked theirs for our country.
Her long-term objective is to deliver high-quality healthcare to individuals in developing nations and positively influence society at-large by promoting systemic changes to enhance health and
well-being.
Congratulations to Women's Soccer player Isabella Santavicca who was awarded the @WCCsports WCC Female Postgraduate Scholarship for her outstanding work in the classroom!#GaelsRise
— Saint Mary's Women's Soccer (@SMC_WSoccer) June 8, 2023
Full Story ⬇️https://t.co/WbiLtJtGDB pic.twitter.com/eqdzK1W9iC
SMC Men's Soccer completed over 300 hours of community services in and around campus. They helped host several events on campus such as the Saint Mary's Legacy Garden and the Pedrozzi Young Scholar Event.
They also assisted at the Saint Vincent de Paul Homeless Shelter and Community Center. SMC men's soccer served as coaches and mentors in the community, coaching kids with
disabilities as part of the TopSoccer Initiative.
The Gaels adopted the coaching, leadership equity and respect program on campus, including a 12-week program to bring awareness to sexual violence on campus. The team played an integral role in the campus and surrounding community serving as exceptional ambassadors of Saint Mary's.
Congratulations to Men's Soccer who were recognized Wednesday evening by the @WCCsports with the WCC Represent Award for their initiatives to promote positive SAAC values of sportsmanship and community service!
— Saint Mary's Men's Soccer (@SMC_MSoccer) June 8, 2023
Full Story ⬇️#GaelsRisehttps://t.co/mhjxj42OC5 pic.twitter.com/kvpM994k0V
FULL LIST OF 2023 WCC YEAR-END MAJOR HONORS
Commissioner's Cup
BYU
Men's All-Sports Award
LMU
Women's All-Sports Award
BYU
WCC Male Mike Gilleran Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Noel Caliskan, LMU
WCC Female Mike Gilleran Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Gabby Blossom, San Diego
WCC Male Postgraduate Scholarship
Clayton Thatcher, Gonzaga
WCC Female Postgraduate Scholarship
Isabella Santavicca, Saint Mary's
WCC Male Sportsmanship Award
Ross Johnstone, San Diego
WCC Female Sportsmanship Award
San Diego Volleyball
#WCCRepresent Award
Sammy Needham, Santa Clara and Saint Mary's Men's Soccer
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
M
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