Colleen Smith of College of Idaho (left) and Erik Quick-Warner of Northwest Christian have been voted the Scholar-Athletes of the Year in the CCC.
CCC Scholars: Smith (CI), Quick-Warner (NCU)
PORTLAND, Ore. – Colleen Smith of College of Idaho and Erik Quick-Warner of Northwest Christian University have been voted the 2009-10 Cascade Collegiate Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year, the conference office announced.
The annual awards, voted on by the CCC’s athletic directors, are presented to one male and one female who have distinguished themselves on the field of play and in the classroom during the academic year.
Smith, a junior mathematics major from Boise, Idaho, is a two-sport athlete who has maintained a perfect GPA at C of I. A two-time Academic All-CCC selection and a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Smith was named the recipient of the NAIA’s 2010 A.O. Duer Award. The Duer Award recognizes a junior who has excelled in character, playing ability and scholarship.
In the fall of 2009, Smith was named the CCC’s Defensive Player of the Year in women’s soccer, the second time she has been honored first team all-conference in the sport. This past spring, she qualified for the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.
"It's a great honor for Colleen and both the women's soccer and track and field programs," said Pat McCurry, the Yotes’ track and field coach. "She is a talented, well-rounded student-athlete, and such a multi-faceted person. To be able to compete at a high-level in two sports, serve as the editor of an award-inning student newspaper, become student body president, and maintain her GPA like she has, is amazing."
Quick-Warner, a senior accounting major (3.9 GPA) from Springfield, Ore., just completed his third season as a starter for the Beacons’ basketball team. He is a two-time Academic All-CCC choice and a three-time NCU Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The co-MVP for the Beacons this past season, Quick-Warner ended his career No. 1 on NCU all-time lists for free throws made, assists, and steals, and No. 3 in points scored.
“Erik has been the ultimate student-athlete for Northwest Christian University over his four years here,” said Corey Anderson, NCU’s head basketball coach and athletic director. “While Erik has never been voted All-CCC during his career, I feel that many opposing coaches would agree in saying that without Erik’s play and intelligent decision making, we would not have been as competitive or as successful as we were during his time as a Beacon.”