Athletics

You know that if you put your mind to it, if you are disciplined, you can get it done.

“You have to work hard to get to the college sport level, and that discipline can carry over into the classroom,” says Shelby Hooper, a women’s golf team member majoring in business finance. “The drive to succeed allows college athletes to overcome both academic and sports challenges. You know that if you put your mind to it, if you are disciplined, you can get it done.”

And Chico State’s student-athletes do, indeed, get things done.

The Wildcats were the top athletics department in the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 2010–11, winning the Commissioner’s Cup. They finished 26th out of 310 NCAA Division II schools in the Director’s Cup standings. And since 1998, Chico State’s athletic teams have won 99 NCAA Championship berths, 24 West Region titles, and 15 National titles.

They also succeed in the classroom: Chico State student-athletes achieve a higher average GPA than the overall undergraduate population and graduate at a higher rate.

The Wildcat drive extends to service in the community. Student-athletes visit local schools through ’Cats in the Classroom. They teach the kids about teamwork, leadership, science, and art through activities related to their sports.

Shelby, who won the 2009–10 Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award, says her Chico State experience has also been lots of fun. She loved traveling with her teammates, especially in the run-up to the 2009 Division II NCAA Championships.

But she was always happy to come back to Chico. “On my first visit, I just fell in love with campus and the town,” she says. “And the experience has exceeded my expectations. Chico is a great place to go to college.”

After she graduates in 2012, Shelby says, her athletic experience will give her a competitive edge in the job market. “A lot of employers love that you have time management skills and a competitive drive,” she says. “You want to succeed, you want to win, you are disciplined—and they look for that.”