Photo By Paul Stevenson | Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific The Matthew C. Perry High...... read more read more
Three Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Pacific soccer teams have garnered national recognition for their outstanding work in the classroom. The Matthew C. Perry girls’ and boys’ teams along with the Nile C. Kinnick girls’ team each earned the 2018-2019 United Soccer Coaches of America Team Academic Award.
The awards were announced 3 Oct. and are given annually to celebrate the academic achievement of high school soccer teams whose student-athletes collectively demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their studies over the course of a full academic year.
To qualify for the award, a team must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.25 for the entire year. During the 2018-2019 school year the M.C. Perry girls garnered a team GPA of 3.71, the Kinnick girls maintained a 3.70 team GPA, and the M.C. Perry boys carried a 3.57 team GPA.
Out of a total of 288 teams (113 boys, 175 girls) from throughout the United States to earn the award, DoDEA Pacific managed to place three teams on the list, with M.C. Perry High School being one of only 30 schools in the entire country to have both their boys and girls teams receiving honors. That is a significant achievement given the number of high school soccer teams fielded across the United States according to Tom McKinney, the DoDEA Pacific program coordinator for athletics. He says the award showcases DoDEA’s dedication to success not only on the field, but also in the classroom.
“DoDEA Pacific’s student-athletes continue to be a source of pride for all of DoDEA,” McKinney said. “The outstanding achievements of our student-athletes in the classroom and in competition reflect the effort and enthusiasm with which they go about their business. I am proud of the excellence they continue to attain and grateful for our teachers, coaches and families, and the valuable support they continue to provide our students.”
The three teams earning the award continue a standard of excellence set over a number of years by their predecessors. The Kinnick girls’ soccer program has achieved this award the past five years, while 2018-2019 marks the fourth consecutive year the M.C. Perry boys’ team earned the distinction.
“I am constantly amazed at the commitment the players have,” said Kinnick girls soccer coach Nicolas Hindie of the attention given to class work even as they prepare for matches. “Many of them will read and do homework on a bus to and from a match, before and after. We often come home very late from these (matches) and yet they still manage to get it (class work) done.”
The hard work and discipline displayed by these student-athletes in the classroom have led to impressive academic success as reflected by High School Team Academic Award. Not to limit their accomplishments to the classroom, each team has been able to successfully transfer that hard work and discipline to the pitch for successful results there as well. All three teams finished the Far East soccer season with impressive win totals while garnering both team and individual accolades. This past season the Kinnick Red Devils rolled to a 21-1-2 overall record en route to the Far East Championship. The M.C. Perry Lady Samurai finished 19-2-8 overall, taking second place in the Western Japan Athletic Association. The M.C. Perry Samurai boys finished with a 13-10-2, and were crowned Pacific East Champions.
About DoDEA
DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education programs for school-aged children of Department of Defense personnel who would otherwise not have access to high-quality public education. DoDEA schools are located in Europe, the Pacific, Western Asia, the Middle East, Cuba, the United States, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA also provides support and resources to local educational activities throughout the United States that serve children of military families.
| Date Taken: | 10.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 10.24.2019 20:38 |
| Story ID: | 349154 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 83 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, DoDEA Pacific Soccer Teams Earn National Academic Honors, by Paul Stevenson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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