Sacramento, CA . . . The Commission on Athletics Recognition Committee is proud to announce Aliah Abdo of De Anza College and Chameion Sutton of Butte College as recipients of the women's and men’s 2001 Pepsi Scholar Athlete Award.
Abdo and Sutton, along with the rest of the 2001 honor roll members, will be honored at the annual Pepsi Celebration of Student Athletes Luncheon, part of the COA Annual Convention, on Wednesday, March 20 at the Peppermill Hotel in Reno, Nevada.
The Pepsi Scholar Athlete award is the highest student achievement honor awarded annually by the COA, which oversees intercollegiate competition at 103 community colleges and nearly 25,000 student athletes each year. The winners, along with the rest of the honor roll, were selected from nominations made by colleges throughout the state.
“The judging was very difficult this year as there were many outstanding candidates, all of whom excelled in academics, competition and citizenship,” said COA Commissioner Dr. Joanne Fortunato. “We congratulate the winners and the honor roll finalists on all of their achievements."
The Women’s Honor Roll includes: Marinna Boyd (Palomar College Tennis, 4.0 GPA), Erin Furlong (Mendocino College Cross Country, Track and Softball, 3.81 GPA), Sara Harris (Sacramento City College Swimming and Water Polo, 3.72 GPA), Crystal Marks (Shasta College Diving and Track, 3.77 GPA), Cheryl Mills (Compton College Track, 3.86 GPA), Autumn St. George (Antelope Valley College Soccer, 3.75 GPA), Amy Sperry (Cuesta College Volleyball, 3.60 GPA) and Cari Taylor (West Hills College Tennis and Volleyball, 3.91 GPA).
The Men’s Honor Roll includes: Derek Bradley (Cuesta College Swimming and Water Polo, 3.85 GPA), Edward Casillas (Moorpark College Football and Track, 3.63 GPA), Song Cun (LA Valley Basketball, 3.50 GPA), Waleed Diab (Fullerton College Track, 3.85 GPA), Sierus Erdelyi (El Camino Tennis, 3.95 GPA), Enrique Guerrero (San Diego Mesa College Cross Country and Track, 3.59 GPA), Kellen Prince (Shasta College Swimming, 3.75 GPA).
Aliah Abdo maintained a 4.0 GPA while majoring in Political Science at De Anza College. Her ability to balance academic pursuits and athletic excellence earned Abdo numerous accolades, including: the Salute to Youth Award, the California Congress of PTSA Scholarship Award, the Janet Gustaveson Memorial Scholar Athlete Scholarship, the foothill/De Anza College Foundation Scholar Award, the Jeff Krostnoff Scholar Athlete Award and the Mervyn’s California/Women’s Sports Foundation Scholar Athlete Award. Abdo also served as President of De Anza’s Muslim Student Association.
With Abdo as the starting middle blocker, the De Anza women’s volleyball team went 11-6 in 1999 and the following year finished second in the Coast Conference with a 10-5 record. Abdo also starred for the De Anza women’s track team, competing in the high-jump, long-jump, triple-jump, javelin and both the 100-meter and 400-meter relays. She was named to the Track and Field All-American team in 2000. Abdo is currently attending the University of California at Berkley on an academic scholarship, where she is competing in high-jump and javelin for the Golden Bears track team.
Chameion Sutton maintained a GPA of 4.0 while attending Butte College. Sutton was a two-year standout at the safety position on the Butte football squad. During this freshman year, he intercepted four passes. Sutton twice earned first-team all-conference and All-North Cal honors, and was named a 2000 J.C. Grid-Wire First-Team Academic All-American.
While attending Butte, Sutton also made an impact off the playing field, volunteering to read to local elementary school children and tutoring members of the Butte football team.
Sutton is currently attending the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, majoring in Liberal Studies. In 2001, he appeared in all 11 games for the Rebels, finishing seventh on the team with 27 solo tackles. Sutton’s scholastic excellence has continued at UNLV, earning him 2001 Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors.
Tickets for the Pepsi Celebration of Student Athletes Luncheon will be sold up to 10:00 a.m.
on Wednesday, March 20, 2002. Tickets for the event will not be sold after 10:00 a.m. To register for
the luncheon, please print, complete and return the convention registration form available at www.coasports.org.
For more information on the COA Annual Convention, and for the latest news, information and updates of all 23 COA sanctioned sports, please visit www.coasports.org.
COA
