Former Cerritos College student-athletes
Shannon Simpson and Ryan Tamula
have been honored by the California Community
College Commission on Athletics and California
Community College Athletic Association as
members of the 2009 COA/CCCAA Scholar Athlete
Honor Roll for their efforts in the classroom.
Simpson, who spent two seasons on the Falcon
cross country and track and field teams, is
currently a student at UNLV, while Tamula, a
two-year member of the water polo team, is a
student in the nursing program at Cypress
College.
Each student was nominated by their respective
coaches and their selection was a result of
their minimum 3.5 grade point average,
demonstration of outstanding citizen
characteristics, participation in at least two
seasons of sport, as well as three strong
recommendations from a California Community
College or person with knowledge of their
qualifications.
Simpson, who graduated with the highest honors
in Liberal Arts and Sciences, helped the Falcons
to two straight track and field state
championship by finishing third in the 10,000
meters and fifth in the 5000 meters as a
freshman. She was also an All-Southern
California and All-South Coast Conference
selection on the cross country team and placed
26th at the state championships as a sophomore.
As for Tamula, he graduated with a degree in
nursing and was also an All-American his
sophomore season on the water polo team. In
addition, Tamula garnered 1st Team All-Southern
California and 1st Team All-South Coast
Conference honors, while he was voted the team's
Most Valuable Player. He finished third on the
team as a sophomore with 41 goals, while the
team advanced to the championships of
the conference tournament. He finished fourth on
the team his freshman year with 23 goals and was
a 2nd Team all-conference pick, as well being
voted the team's Defensive Player of the Year.
The two will be presented with their award at
the 2009 COA/CCCAA Celebration of Student
Athletes Luncheon on Wednesday, March 31, 2010
in Ontario, CA.
