The City University of New York Athletic Conference annually recognizes its best and brightest student-athletes, who not only excel in athletics, but succeed in the classroom as well. Over the next few weeks, CUNYAC will recognize those who truly embody what it means to be a student-athlete. The award is presented by Hospital for Special Surgery, the official hospital of the CUNY Athletic Conference.
Cooper York, a member of the CCNY baseball team, holds an impressive 3.89 grade-point average, majoring in International Studies. York is a CUNYAC Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and Athletic Director's Honor Roll selection every semester he's been eligible.
A native of Madison, Wisc., York is a member of CCNY's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and serves as an Athletics representative on numerous student committees on campus. In addition, York once held an internship with NYC Emergency Management.
On the field, York is a four-year starter for the Beavers, making appearances in the infield, outfield and on the mound. He is a career .267 hitter, amassing 93 hits, 43 RBI, 80 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. He helped CCNY reach the CUNYAC postseason in 2017 and 2018.
This season, the team captain started all nine games before play stoppage due to the COVID-19 pandemic. York produced a multi-hit performance to help the Beavers secure a victory over Purchase.
"I guess showing up to class 15-20 minutes early everyday paid off after four years," York said. "Our baseball program really emphasized the importance of being a student first and an athlete second. Therefore, sports were always just an added bonus to attending City College. Being an athlete allowed the traits and skills of discipline, time management, and perseverance to translate to the classroom. I'm thankful to have been able to juggle both athletics and academics during my time here."
"Cooper was a quiet force on the team, always leading by example," Head Coach Steve Mascias said. "Cooper was always willing to help out the program. He was a versatile player who was able to move around the field in order to make the team better. He excelled at every position he played but his best was Scholar-Athlete. While Cooper will be missed, his legacy and leadership will have a lasting impact on the baseball program."
2019-20 CUNYAC/HSS Scholar-Athlete of the Year Honorable Mentions
HSS is ranked #1 in the nation for orthopedics by U.S. News & World Report for the 10th straight year. No wonder the City University of New York Athletic Conference trust HSS as their official hospital. For more information, please visit www.HSS.edu. During this time of social distancing, HSS has developed resources to adjust to working from home, located on the new HSS Feel Better From Home website.