A stud on the court and in the classroom

Lady Bulldog Clarissa Mendoza was picked as All-State Academic Selection and will be presented with the award during the 2011-2012 state championship, in Vertura on Friday, March 9, 2012.

This honor was awarded to only five outstanding players in all of California, and only one other in the NorCal region.

"She wanted (the award) last year," said Coach Michelle Warner. Mendoza is the first from CSM to receive the award in a long time, she said.

"I'm very proud of myself and I do feel honored to receive the award but it doesn't mean that I can let up and relax," said Mendoza. "It took hard work to get up there and it's going to be harder to stay there. The true test is maintaining that and being consistent with it."

Mendoza has been relentlessly been working to earn the honor and doesn't plan to slow down, she said.  

"Clarissa is an idealist student athlete who executes both on and off the court, a great team player and an even greater role model," said Mendoza's teammate Jennifer Piccolotti.

"She also works part time on top of school and basketball," she said.