SAN RAMON, Calif. – Humboldt State’s Marissa McCay was tabbed the California Collegiate Athletic Association’s Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The award is voted on and selected by Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from the Conference’s 13 member institutions.

“With Marissa McCay just receiving the CCAA Track & Field Athlete of the year award, it is that much more rewarding to her and our program with receiving the CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year,” said HSU Head Coach Scott Pesch. “The balance between academics and athletics is so important, and Marissa has proven that if you work hard enough good things will come collectively.”

McCay, a high jump National Champion and All-American heptathlete, graduated Cum Laude and earned her bachelor of arts in child development while minoring in kinesiology. She was a 10-semester HSU Presidential Scholar and was named a CCAA All-Academic selection four times. McCay has been accepted to the Humboldt State multiple-subject credential program for the 2017-18 academic year. 

The McKinleyville, Calif., native became the program’s first-ever NCAA women’s individual National Champion and has earned numerous conference, regional and national awards. McCay was named the CCAA Track and Field Athlete of the Year following her second place finish in the high jump, third place finish in the long jump and 100-meter hurdles, and a sixth place finish in the shot put at the conference meet. She is also a CoSIDA Academic All-District award winner and USTFCCCA All-Region selection.

At the national level, McCay was responsible for 11 of the Lumberjacks 23 points at the outdoor championships and helped the Green and Gold to an 11th place finish, the best in program history.

McCay set new school records in the triple jump (40-2.5), high jump (5-10) and the heptathlon (5,128 pts.) during the 2017 season.

She becomes the second Humboldt State athlete to collect the Conference’s top academic honor. Audrey Oswald was named Scholar-Athlete in 2007-08. McCay is also the conference’s seventh track and field student-athlete to earn the award.