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Release Date:

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Making the grade: Hawks soar academically

The HFC Men's Basketball Team have acheived a cumulative GPA of 3.03 for the 2022-23 academic year. Of the 12 members, eight earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher. As a result, they made the Hawks Academic Team as a team.

The HFC Athletic department is proud to announce that the Hawks Men’s Basketball, Baseball, and Softball teams are achieving excellence academically as well as on the courts and fields.

The Athletic Department as a whole achieved its highest cumulative GPA since before the coronavirus pandemic. Here is the breakdown by team:

Men’s Basketball: 3.03 GPA
Baseball: 2.97 GPA
Softball: 2.86 GPA

“I visited each team during practice to present the Hawks Academic Team certificates to the recipients. The Hawks Academic Team recognizes student-athletes who have earned a 3.0 GPA or better in at least 12 credits during one semester at the College,” said HFC Athletic Director Rochelle Taylor.

“This is the kind of result we can achieve on a broad scale with intentional academic support for students,” said HFC President Russell Kavalhuna.

Cagers make Hawks Academic Team as a team

Of the 12 members of the Men’s Basketball team, eight earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher, said Taylor and Coach Chris Shepard.

“Congratulations to the Men’s Basketball team for making the Hawks Academic Team as a team with a cumulative GPA of 3.03,” said Taylor.

According to Shepard, there are several ways to support student-athletes.

“One way we support them is through study tables during the semester. Another way is by using progress reports to check academic progress,” he said. “As a coaching staff, we designate players that we are responsible for. This way, we can keep a tighter eye on everything. We travel with a hotspot that is paid for by (Taylor) that allows the students to complete assignments while we are traveling. It is a tremendous help.”

Shepard continued: “As a staff, we sit down with every player and organize what a typical week is going to look like in their classes. Some classes have weekly homework, quizzes, or discussions. We also make sure students understand time management. Waiting to the last second to complete assignments is a recipe for academic trouble. We try to make sure they stay at least a day ahead of deadlines. If a class is work-at-your-own-pace, we require they get ahead to offset any potential issues.”

Shepard is proud of his team’s progress on and off the court.

“This team is extremely talented, and they will all have opportunities to play after HFC,” he said. “Their hard work in the classroom will allow them to accept these opportunities. I'm extremely proud of them. From top to bottom, they did a really nice job.”