Cloud County Softball, Baseball Named Burnell Ukens Academic Teams of the Year

Cloud County Community College Athletics
Cloud County Community College Athletics

The Cloud County Community College baseball and softball teams are the winners of the 2021-2022 Burnell Ukens Academic Teams of the Year Awards, given to the men's and women's T-Bird athletic teams that finish the year with the highest overall team GPA.

Overall, the softball team finished the year with the best overall GPA among the 12 sports at Cloud County, finishing with a 3.72 GPA to finish just ahead of the baseball team who finished with the second-highest GPA in the athletic department at 3.45. Finishing with the second-highest team GPA in their respective genders were the volleyball team (3.31 GPA) for the women and the men's cross country team (3.35 GPA).

The award for the softball team is their fourth overall and first since the 2019-20 Burnell Ukens Academic Team of the Year honors with their other winning years coming in 2011-12 and 2012-13. As for the Cloud County baseball team, it marks the sixth consecutive year that they have finished with the highest team GPA on the men's side and sixth overall award.

In total, eight of Cloud County's 12 athletic teams posted a GPA of 3.0 or higher, including softball, baseball, men's cross country, volleyball, women's cross country, women's basketball, women's outdoor track, and women's indoor track.

The award, which has been in place since 2008-20009 is named after longtime Cloud County Community College employee and ambassador Burnell Ukens. From 1965-1995, Ukens served as a valued member of the faculty at CCCC teaching mathematics. Burnell also led the college as the first Athletic Director for eight years and started the tennis program in 1971 while serving as head coach. Burnell also assisted track and field and baseball at various times throughout his career and served as intramural director. A dedicated family man, coach, and visionary in the realm of athletics, the Burnell Ukens Academic Teams of the Year award is to honor those teams who show academic excellence in the classroom in honor of an exceptional educator.

Burnell Ukens Academic Teams of the Year Winners by Year
2008-2009: Men's – Cross Country, Women's – Indoor Track & Field
2009-2010: Men's – Basketball, Women's – Cross Country
2010-2011: Men's – Basketball, Women's - Volleyball
2011-2012: Men's – Soccer, Women's - Softball
2012-2013: Men's - Soccer, Women's - Softball
2013-2014: Men's – Outdoor Track & Field, Women's - Basketball
2014-2015: Men's – Basketball, Women's - Volleyball
2015-2016: Men's - Cross Country, Women's - Volleyball
2016-2017: Men's – Baseball, Women's - Volleyball
2017-2018: Men's – Baseball, Women's - Volleyball
2018-2019: Men's - Baseball, Women's - Volleyball
2019-2020: Men's – Baseball, Women's - Softball
2020-2021: Men's – Baseball, Women's - Volleyball
2021-2022: Men's – Baseball, Women's - Softball