Yuba College track and field athlete Yuchua Yang has been named to the 2024–25 3C2A Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, recognizing his success in both academics and competition. The California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) announced the honor on March 31, 2026, for students like Yang who demonstrate excellence on the field and in the classroom at community colleges across California.
To qualify, candidates must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA, participate in at least two seasons of sport at a California community college, and demonstrate strong leadership. Yang, a standout in track and field, maintained a 4.0 GPA while earning All-American honors and achieving a No. 3 ranking in the state for the hammer throw. This recognition represents one of the highest academic honors for California community college athletics, chosen from nearly 28,000 student-athletes annually.
Yang described the recognition as "a moment of profound validation," reflecting years of discipline and effort. He emphasized the balance required, detailing his approach of meticulous time management and treating academics with the same intensity as his sport. He utilized every gap in his day for studying, aiming to be fully engaged as a student in the classroom and an athlete on the field.
His path at Yuba College began as a walk-on, without a scholarship or a guaranteed spot. This experience, Yang said, taught him that everything is earned. Yuba College track and field coach Howdy Atkinson affirmed Yang’s consistent work ethic, noting his dedication to arriving early, staying late, and independently cleaning up equipment. Atkinson recalled Yang often sitting with him after practice, showing his commitment to improving.
Yang credits his drive to a belief that effort is always controllable, regardless of natural ability. His leadership style, he explained, centers on consistency and leading by example for his teammates. Erick Burns, Director of Kinesiology, Health and Athletics, expressed college pride in seeing students like Yang recognized. Burns also highlighted the significant role coaches play in supporting student-athletes academically, through regular progress checks and intervention when needed.
For Yang, the honor symbolizes the foundation he built at the community college level—the grit, late nights, and academic rigor. He views it as proof that one does not have to choose between being a great athlete and a great student.
Yuba College, located at 2088 North Beale Road in Marysville, has served the Yuba-Sutter area since opening in 1927. The college provides over 90 programs and enrolls more than 10,000 students.
Yang is scheduled to be honored at the 3C2A Scholar-Athlete Luncheon on April 1 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport. This event is part of the California Community College Athletic Association’s annual convention.
