LA JOLLA – The Chico State men’s soccer season concluded its season over six months ago, but that didn’t keep Adam Raish from putting his best foot forward in the classroom this spring as he wrapped up his final semester as an undergraduate. The senior defender from Hemet was recognized for his impressive off-the-field efforts Thursday when the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) named Raish the conference’s Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The CCAA award is the latest of several academic honors for Raish, who was also named Chico State’s 2009-10 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, selected to the Division II Athletic Directors Association All-Scholar team and has been an All-CCAA Academic honoree four times. Raish was also named the 2008-09 Dr. Hal Charnofsky award winner – an annual CCAA honor going to student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in the classroom, the community, and in their sport – and was selected to the Dean’s List six times. He graduated in May with a degree in construction management. 

Raish was an active participant in Chico State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Along with his men’s soccer teammates and other Wildcat student-athletes, Raish took part in the Athletic Department’s “Cats in the Classroom” program and the Construction Management canned food drive.

A four-year starter and three-time captain for the Wildcats, Raish scored two goals and posted six assists in his Chico State career while spearheading a Wildcat defense that held opponents to an average of less than one goal a match during both the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

The CCAA Scholar Athlete of the Year award is voted on and selected by the Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from the conference’s 12 institutions.