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Lizette Moreno and Kobe Ordonio action pic
Posted: Sep 01, 2020

Student-Athletes of the Year

The Department of Kinesiology & Athletics is proud to announce the 2019-20 Gavilan College Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year Awards presented by Togo’s Eatery on 1st Street in Gilroy.  This year’s recipients are Lizette Moreno of the women’s basketball team and Kobe Ordonio of the men’s basketball team. The awards will be presented at the Board of Trustee meeting on September 8, 2020.  This is the first time that members of both basketball teams have won the award in the same year.

Background:

Since 2008, the Rams Athletic Department has recognized and honored its student-athletes for their accomplishments on and off the field.  In 2015, the Rams teamed up with Togo’s Eatery on 1st Street in Gilroy and Articulate Solutions to celebrate our students’ successes.

As part of the selection process, special attention was paid specifically to four areas: academic achievement; leadership; athletic contributions; and involvement in the community.  Over the course of the 2019-20 academic year, 24 individual student-athletes were recognized for their accomplishments as student-athletes of the month.  As a result, each were honored with a certificate of recognition, compliments of Articulate Solutions, and a complimentary lunch gift certificate from Togo’s.  Their names were also added to a perpetual plaque that will be proudly displayed in the foyer of the Bud & Jean Ottmar Memorial Gymnasium.

Recognition:

 This year’s recipient of the 2019-20 Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award goes to Lizette Moreno of the women’s basketball team.

Moreno, a native of Selma and graduate of Selma High School in 2018, earned both Dean’s Scholar (3.0 g.p.a. during any semester while completing at least 12 units) and Scholar-Athlete (2 semesters with a 3.0 g.p.a. after completing 12 units) recognition in both semesters while posting a 3.13 cumulative grade point average for the year and completing 34.5 units. Moreno graduated this summer with an AA-T Degree in Psychology.

As a competitor, Moreno ranked in the top 10 in five Coast Conference statistical categories and received top honors at the conclusion of the season:

  • 10th-points/game: 14.2
  • 10th-Shooting percentage: 42.4%
  • 9th-Field goals made/game: 5.5
  • 4th-Free throw attempts/game: 2.7
  • 1st-Free throw percentage: 71.9%
  • 1st Team All Coast Conference
  • Gavilan College WBB MVP
  • Hit game winning shot against Coast Conference power Mission College

As an active member in the community, Moreno served as a mentor within the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative.  BAWSI is an after school program that places attention on young elementary aged girls by providing them with physical activity and confidence building exercises.  Children are mentored by female athletes within our local community. 

At this point, Moreno plans to return to Gavilan in the fall to pursue additional academic goals before transferring to the four-year level.  She is considering her options in regards to extending her collegiate basketball career as well.

This year’s recipient of the 2019-20 Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award goes to Kobe Ordonio of the men’s basketball team.

Ordonio, a native of Monterey and who graduated from Monterey High School in 2017, earned both Dean’s Scholar and Scholar-Athlete recognition in both semesters while posting a 3.10 cumulative grade point average for the year and completing 27.5 units. Ordonio graduated this summer with an AA Degree in Kinesiology.

As a competitor, Ordonio also leaves with an impressive list of accomplishments on the court, which include several Top 10 rankings.

 Finished Top-10 in (8) State statistical categories; Led Coast Conference in (4) areas:

  • 1st Scoring: 26.8 pts/gm
  • 1st Total Points: 750
  • 1st-Field goals made: 263
  • 3rd-Free throws made: 146
  • 4th-Total Assists: 177
  • 5th-Assist/game: 6.3
  • 6th-Total minutes played
  • 8th-Total steals: 75 and steals/gm: 2.7
  • Led the Coast Conference in points, assists, steals, and minutes played
  • 1st Team All-State Selection
  • 1st Team All-Coast Conference Selection

Ordonio has been active in the community as well, serving as a coach at many basketball camps over the past several years.  He’s also been active at supporting the basketball programs at his high school in Monterey.  Ordonio earned seven scholarship opportunities, but has decided to continue his education and playing career at nationally ranked CSU San Bernardino in the fall.

“On behalf of the Rams Athletic Department, we are proud to recognize the accomplishments of these two exceptional student-athletes.  Lizette and Kobe embody the spirit of Rams Athletics and Gavilan College as a whole.  We’re excited to watch as they turn the page and enter the next chapter of their educational lives.  The future is so bright for these two,” stated Ron Hannon, Dean and Athletic Director at Gavilan College.