Oakley-Stilson, Clark named CCCAA Scholar-Athletes of the Year; 21 programs win Scholar Team Awards

SACRAMENTO – Glendale College women’s basketball standout Tess Oakley-Stilson and Ohlone College men’s water polo leader Nathan Clark have been named the 2019-20 Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year, it was announced by the California Community College Athletic Association on Monday.

The pair will be honored on March 31 as part of the annual CCCAA Convention which will run online from March 30-April 1. They’ll join 17 other accomplished impressive student-athletes from conferences throughout the state who earned distinction on the Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, and 22 programs that will receive Scholar Team Awards.

Additionally, Tasson Thomas (men’s basketball) from Allan Hancock College and Kimberly Izarraras (women’s soccer) of Long Beach City College will receive 3C4A Achievement Awards during the online presentation.

The CCCAA Scholar-Athlete awards combine excellence in academics, athletics, and citizenship.

Oakley-Stilson, a 5-foot-6 wing from nearby La Canada, led Glendale with a 14.9 scoring average in 2019-20 and helped the Vaqueros advance to within one game of the state championship tournament before finishing their season with an impressive 27-3 record. She had eight games with at least 20 points, including a season-high 28 against Santa Rosa Junior College early in the season.  

As much as Oakley-Stilson shined on the basketball court, her light was even brighter in the classroom where she earned her A.A. degree in English with a perfect 4.0 GPA while garnering Dean’s Honors. She has eyes towards veterinary school and will take the next step towards that goal when she transfers to UC Santa Cruz and plays on the women’s basketball team after deferring enrollment to Fall 2021.

She was named the Glendale College Female Athlete of the Year, received the Dr. Paul Schlossman Scholar Award, was CCCWBCA Academic All-State and third-team All-State honoree, and was twice named to the All-Western State Conference team. In addition to her academic and playing pursuits, Oakley-Stilson coaches at the parks and recreation and high school levels while also volunteering with the Glendale team.

Clark, a 5-9 utility player for the Renegades, prepped at Washington High School in Fremont before helping Ohlone reach the Northern California Regional Championships for the first time in more than two decades. He was an All-Coast Conference and All-NorCal Regional selection, scoring 90 career goals and compiling 45 assists. Clark was also a strong defender, drawing a team-high tying 27 exclusions as a sophomore.

He finished his academic career at Ohlone with a sparkling 3.93 GPA, picking up A’s in courses such as Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Business Law, and Calculus for Business and Social Sciences. Clark earned perfect 4.0 GPAs in three semesters, earning A.A. degrees with Highest Honors in Human Development Studies, Business, and Business Administration. Additionally, he received a Certificate of Achievement in Accounting.

Clark has also given back to the local community, volunteering to read to children at local elementary schools while also talking about the importance of attending college and participating in sports. He also led his team’s Holiday Donation Drive.