Hamden Students Named SCC Scholar Athletes of the Month

Hamden’s Kychoon Park and Olivia Baker were among the 14 student-athletes from seven high schools to be named The SportsCenter of Connecticut/Southern Connecticut Conference Scholar Athletes of the Month for January.

Now in its ninth year, The SportsCenter of Connecticut/SCC Scholar Athlete of the Month program will honor outstanding young men and women each month during the 2014-15 academic year.

“Many thanks to the Sports Center of Connecticut for its support of the SCC and the Scholar Athlete of the Month program,” SCC Commissioner Al Carbone said. “This conference has been proud of its success for the last 20-plus years, and to be able to recognize outstanding young men and women who demonstrate the desire and ability to succeed solidifies what the SCC is all about.”

Each SCC member school gets two honorees per season (fall, winter and spring). The Conference is announcing the winter recipients in December, January and February.

Student athletes who are selected must be a varsity letter-winner and have a 3.0/B average while demonstrating leadership qualities such as: being a positive role model; helping teammates overcome adversity; showing a commitment to self-improvement; or putting the needs of the team before themselves.

Sports Center of CT/SCC Scholar Athlete of the Month recipients and receive a certificate, commemorative T-shirt and a SportsCenter of Connecticut activity pass.

Park, a three-sport (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) performer for the Green Dragons, has been a standout in the classroom. He ranks in the top 25 percent of his class and holds a 3.67 grade-point average.

Park is a member of the National Honor Society.

“Kychoon came to American from Korea three years and was not able to speak English,” Hamden athletic director Tom Dyer said. “In just three years, he had flourished as a scholar and student-athlete at Hamden High School.”

Baker, the captain of the Green Dragons’ dance team, has been a standout in the classroom. A member of the National Honor Society, Baker holds a 3.8 grade-point average and is a member of the Yearbook Committee. She also was a Junior Math and Spanish scholar.

“Olivia is deserving of this honor because she exemplifies the true meaning of a scholar athlete, leader, role model and all-around student,” Dyer said.