University of Hawai’i Athletics Earns Academic Recognition with 10 Selections to CSC All-District Team
Ten University of Hawai’i student-athletes have earned placement on the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District At-Large team, recognizing their combined excellence in collegiate athletics and the classroom. To qualify for the honor, athletes must maintain a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade-point average and serve as a starter or significant reserve for their respective programs, according to official university records.
Who are the University of Hawai’i honorees?
The 2024 cohort from the University of Hawai’i features athletes from the women’s water polo, women’s golf, and beach volleyball teams. The selected student-athletes include:
- Water Polo: Lucia Gomez de la Puente, Jordan Wedderburn, Bia Mantellato Dias, Tara Logan, and Roni Perlman.
- Beach Volleyball: Riley Wagoner, Sydney Miller, and Jaiden Klomp.
- Golf: Wendy Song and Monica Johnson.
These selections highlight the department’s focus on balancing high-level competition with academic rigor. The “At-Large” category specifically encompasses sports that do not have their own standalone CSC All-District teams, such as water polo, golf, and volleyball, ensuring that athletes across diverse disciplines are eligible for recognition.
What are the criteria for CSC Academic All-District selection?
The College Sports Communicators, formerly known as CoSIDA, sets stringent requirements to ensure the award maintains its prestige. According to the CSC Academic All-America program guidelines, student-athletes must meet three primary benchmarks:
- Academic Standing: A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale.
- Athletic Participation: Athletes must have competed in at least 90 percent of the institution’s games or started in at least 66 percent of the contests.
- Class Standing: Nominees must be at least a sophomore in both academic and athletic standing.
These requirements ensure that the award recognizes “student-athletes” in the truest sense, rewarding those who perform at the top of their field while meeting the demands of a full-time university course load.
Why does this recognition matter for the program?
Academic awards serve as a key metric for the University of Hawai’i’s athletic department in its efforts to recruit and retain high-achieving talent. By maintaining a consistent presence on the CSC Academic All-District list, the university signals a culture that prioritizes degree completion alongside championships.
This year’s selection process saw a competitive field, as the CSC limits the number of nominees per institution to ensure the award remains exclusive. The 10 selected Rainbow Wahine athletes will now advance to the national ballot, where they will be considered for the prestigious CSC Academic All-America team, which honors the top scholar-athletes in the country.
Comparison: Academic vs. Athletic Performance
| Metric | Standard for Selection |
|---|---|
| Academic GPA | 3.50 minimum |
| Athletic Participation | 90% of games played OR 66% of games started |
| Eligibility Tier | Sophomore or higher |
As the university looks toward the next academic year, the performance of these 10 individuals sets a benchmark for incoming recruits. With several of these athletes returning to their respective rosters, the program expects to maintain its competitive edge in both the Big West Conference and the academic rankings.
Worth a look