DAYTONA STATE SPORTS - Wins on the Field and in the Community
by Aaron London
It might not be Tuscaloosa , Alabama on a football Saturday , but intercollegiate athletics at Daytona State College are helping push a blue and white tide of success . That success comes on the field – with the women ’ s golf program winning 10 National Junior College Athletic Association national championships over two decades – as well as in the classroom .
Thomas LoBasso
“ I think the importance of athletics is one of academics ,” said Daytona State President Dr . Thomas LoBasso . “ We view it as another academic program because we put that much emphasis on academics .” In that context , it ’ s very important because those students , aside from what they do on the playing field , do extremely well academically .”
LoBasso said the retention and graduation rates as well as grade point averages for student athletes at Daytona State are higher than the college average .
The success of the athletic programs , in competition and academically , was a factor in the college ’ s decision to build a new on-campus residence hall . The four-story hall will provide 52,505 square feet of living , study and recreational space for up to 252 students . For some , having a place to live and study on campus is the deciding factor in where they go to school , and Daytona State will now be on a short list of eight state colleges –– out of 28 in Florida –– that offer on-campus housing . Approximately 180 studentathletes will make this their new home and the remainder of the
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