Mar. 25, 2025, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Community College's women's cross country team continues to excel both on the course and in the classroom. Five members of the 2024 Raiders squad have been named Academic All-Americans by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), recognizing their dedication to academic and athletic excellence.

Honoring Academic Excellence

The prestigious USTFCCCA All-Academic award is given to student-athletes who achieve a minimum 3.40 grade point average while enrolling in at least 12 credit hours during the fall semester. Additionally, honorees must be listed on the NJCAA Region or National roster.

GRCC's 2024 USTFCCCA Academic All-Americans:

• Emily Adamy (Sophomore, International Business Major)
• Gloria Gaston (Freshman, Pre-Military/Medical Missions Major)
• Elicia Land (Sophomore, Nursing Major)
• Estelle Rockhold (Freshman, Undecided Major)
• Mariana Zaragoza (Sophomore, Business Management Major)

These student-athletes have demonstrated a remarkable ability to balance rigorous academic coursework with the physical demands of collegiate cross country competition.

GRCC head coach Sharon Becker praised her team's achievements, stating "I'm very proud of the women that earned Academic All-American Honors. It is a great testament to their diligence, discipline, and the priorities they set and follow."

A Championship Season

The 2024 season was a historic one for the Raiders, who won their conference, claimed the regional title, and placed fifth at nationals. Their success both academically and athletically highlights the program's strong culture of commitment and excellence.

Join the GRCC Cross Country Team

Are you interested in joining the GRCC cross country team next season? Fill out a recruitment questionnaire online and take advantage of Michigan's Free Community College Guarantee—providing free tuition for 2023, 2024, and 2025 graduates.

For all the latest news, you can also follow the Raiders on:

  
Interested in supporting GRCC Athletics?  All donations can be done through GRCC Athletic's Scholarship Fund and can specify what scholarship fund the gift is going to, such as the Hofmann scholarship. If you have any questions on how to support Athletics at Grand Rapids Community College, contact the Athletic Department via phone at (616) 234-3883 or email grccathletics@grcc.edu. Any support is appreciated and goes towards assisting our student-athlete scholarship funds.