POMONA, Calif. - A star in competition and in the classroom,
Justin Ellerbee has earned the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for 2014-15.
In the history of the conference, he is now the first male student-athlete to receive the CCAA Athlete of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in the same year. One female student-athlete accomplished the feat when Cal Poly Pomona tennis standout Onnaca Heron swept the accolades in 1990-91.
A senior Aerospace Engineering major from Rocklin, Ellerbee has maintained a grade point average of 3.76 while earning Academic All-American recognition along the way. He is also the first male student-athlete from Cal Poly Pomona to receive the CCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition.
On May 23 in Michigan, Ellerbee won the Division II national title in the pole vault. Making his third appearance at the NCAA D-II National Championships, Ellerbee broke the Cal Poly Pomona pole vault record once again and placed first with a mark of 17-6.5. He is the ninth national champion in the history of CPP men's track and field and the first since 1994. Ellerbee is also the first pole vaulter in school history to win the national title.
"For him to go out like this in his last collegiate meet, it's special," assistant coach
Josh Linker said. "After he won the title, I just told him that this is something that no one can ever take away. He'll forever be a national champion."
To access a photo album from the pole vault competition, access the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos'Â
Facebook page. The photos were taken by Joe Reinsch.
Ellerbee is now a two-time All-American, having placed fifth at the 2014 National Championships. In his nationals debut as a sophomore in 2013, he finished 13th.
Cal Poly Pomona's CCAA Scholar-Athletes of the Year2014-15:
Justin Ellerbee (Track & Field)
2014-15: Ariel Marsh (Basketball)
2005-06: Katrina Holmberg (Tennis)
2004-05: Rocio Real (Soccer)
1990-91: Onnaca Heron (Tennis)
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