Students who choose Saint Mary's College for continued learning receive much more than a run-of-the-mill education. They join one of the West Coast's premier academic institutions that is consistently recognized for its excellence by U.S. News and World Report.

With a sterling reputation for both academics and athletics, Saint Mary's College provides the rare balance of small college size with NCAA Division I competition. Gael student-athletes receive guidance and counseling to meet their needs from the first day on campus until they graduate. Taking many forms, assistance includes course and major selection, study skills workshops, opportunities for supervised study time, eligibility rules interpretations, and the proctoring of exams while competing away from campus. Coordinating campus efforts for Saint Mary's College is Kari Montero, the Assistant Athletics Director for Student Support Services. She draws from the campus' many other resources, including the Office of Advising Services, the Career Center, Academic Support Center, and the Library and Media Centers.

• Selection of Classes and Majors
• Time Management
• Academic, Athletic and Personal Goal Setting
• Collegiate Study Skills
• Support Skills for Student-Athletes (study hall, tutors, learning disabilities)
• Life Skills and Personal Development
• NCAA, WCC, PCSC and MPSF Academic Requirements
• Balancing Academic and Athletic Expectations
• General Education (GE) Requirements
• Dropping/Adding Courses
• Adjustment to Saint Mary's College
• Personal Issues that Affect Academic Performance
• Campus Resources
• Maximizing the College Experience, Including Exploration of Opportunities Beyond Athletics
• Career Planning and Development
• Preparation for Graduate Programs
• Preparation and Application for NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships

Academic Excellence

Saint Mary's College enjoys a long and rich tradition of academic achievement among its athletic programs. Never has this been more apparent than in the 2004-05 academic year. Some highlights include:

• Garnered 13 conference All-Academic selections and one District VIII All-Academic selection.
• 118 of 211 (55%) student-athletes had a GPA of 3.0 or above in the Fall semester
• 53 student-athletes made the Dean's List (3.5 GPA or above) in the Fall semester
• 111 of 219 (51%) student-athletes had a GPA of 3.0 or above in the Spring semester
• 54 student-athletes made the Dean's List (3.5 GPA or above) in the Spring semester
• 106 student-athletes on the WCC Commissioner's Honor Roll
• 2 Summa Cum Laude, 4 Magna Cum Laude and 2 Cum Laude 2005 Graduates
• 3 student-athletes received Academic Department Commencement Honors in 2005

In addition, the 2004-05 year marked the fifth year of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll recognizing the top 10 GPAs in the entire Department. Kristin Hurst, a two-sport student-athlete in Women's Cross Country and Women's Lacrosse, garnered top honors with a 3.91 cumulative grade point average.

The Athletic Director's Honor Roll included:

Kristin Hurst - Women's Cross Country & Women's Lacrosse
Katie Ludwick - Women's Basketball
Jane Sherry - Women's Tennis
Justine Larsen - Women's Softball
Alison Kop - Women's Soccer
Monica Mertle - Women's Basketball
Kristin Kummer - Women's Tennis
Michelle Mathis - Women's Softball
Lindsay Anderson - Women's Crew
Kali Larson - Women's Soccer

Commitment to Community Service

Saint Mary's College has a long-standing involvement in community services. Using the example of Saint John Baptist De La Salle, Gael student-athletes uphold the Lasallian mission of the College by volunteering many hours of service to local youth, elderly and underprivileged communities. During the 2004-05 academic year, each of the 14 Gael athletic teams committed to serve one or more community organizations.

The benefits of community service for the student-athlete are many. Personal and social adjustments develop from working with others. A community service commitment allows a student-athlete to reach outside the Saint Mary's community and realize their relation with the rest of the world. Saint Mary's College of California is committed to service learning in a variety of ways.

Student-athletes have the opportunity to use the values, work ethic and leadership skills learned through athletics to positively influence others in the community. By volunteering at local events, Saint Mary's student-athletes are some of the best ambassador's for the College.

A sample of the community service programs completed by Gaels student-athletes are:

• NABC Reading Program, providing reading instruction to local youths
• Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
• Visits to the Children's Hospital of Oakland
• Visits to Homeless Shelters in the Bay Area
• Visits to Bay Area Convalescent Homes
• Moraga the Beautiful Community Clean-Up Day
• Catholic Youth Organization Skills Clinics and Autograph Sessions
• Orinda Youth Association Sports Clinics
• Carnival-4-Kids

Commitment to Personal Development

The Commitment to Personal Development involves supporting Saint Mary's Student-Athletes in their pursuit of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Programs related to Personal Development are designed to encourage personal growth, strengthen decision-making skills, and help student-athletes develop into strong leaders.

Through a freshman class, workshops, group sessions, guest speakers, and a partnership with the National Center for Drug Free Sport, the following issues will be addressed with Saint Mary's Student-Athletes:

• Alcohol Awareness
• Drug Use and Abuse
• Stress Management
• Gambling and Sports Betting
• Nutrition and Eating Disorders
• Personal and Social Development
• Etiquette
• Diversity Awareness
• Financial Responsibility
• Violence Prevention
• Sexual Responsibility

Commitment to Career Development

The Career Development component of the CHAMPS/Life Skills program is designed to assist all student-athletes with their career and life planning. Student-athletes may explore personal interest inventories and need assessments while gaining valuable leadership skills and interview techniques.

The Office of Student Support Services works in collaboration with the campus Career Center to provide student-athletes with the most current career related information and services. The Career Center offers a wide array of services from career workshops to on-campus interviewing, cooperative educational work experience, and job placement assistance. The Career Center is committed to assisting students with their career planning and successful decision-making. Students will have the opportunity to:

• Develop and explore career plans related to academic interests
• Acquire career related work experiences
• Develop personal strategies that ensure successful employment upon graduation
• Participate in on-campus interviews and employer informational sessions
• Gain knowledge of current employment trends and issues in the workplace

Additional services offered by the Career Center include:

• Individual Counseling
• Vocational Assessment
• Occupational Information
• Career Workshops
• Resume Building Workshops
• Mock Interviews
• On-Campus Interview Program
• Business Etiquette Workshops
• Job Placement Services
• Career Fairs
• Career Resource Library
• Outreach Program
• Referral Service
• Alumni Career Counseling

The Career Center is located on the second floor of Ferroggiaro Hall. If you have any questions regarding career planning, please visit or call (925) 631- 4600 to speak to a career counselor.