At the June 9 meeting of the Board of Trustees, Gavilan Director
of Athletics Ron Hannon announced Melinda Ortiz, a 2008 graduate of
Gilroy High, as this year’s recipient of the 2008-09
Student-Athlete of the Year Award.
GILROY – At the June 9 meeting of the Board of Trustees, Gavilan Director of Athletics Ron Hannon announced Melinda Ortiz, a 2008 graduate of Gilroy High, as this year’s recipient of the 2008-09 Student-Athlete of the Year Award.
During the 2008-09 year, the Gavilan Athletic Department teamed up with Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que and Articulate Solutions to honor its student-athletes for their accomplishments on and off the field. Special attention was paid specifically to academic achievement, athletic contributions and involvement in the community in selecting Ortiz.
Over the course of this past year, 19 individual student-athletes at Gavilan were recognized for their accomplishments as student-athletes of the month. As a result, each was honored with a certificate of recognition, compliments of Articulate Solutions and a $25 gift certificate from Famous Dave’s. Their names were also added to a perpetual plaque, which will be displayed in the foyer of Bud Ottmar Memorial Gymnasium on campus.
Ortiz played for the Lady Rams softball team this past season and had a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 in the classroom. As a pitcher on the field, the First Team All-Coast Conference selection finished 21st in the State with innings pitched (174.2), 19th in the State in complete games pitched (20), 13th in the State in strikeouts/7 innings pitched (6.93 avg.) and 9th in the State in strikeouts (173).
Ortiz recorded 15 victories during her freshman campaign, leading the Rams to a second place finish in the Coast Conference and a first-round appearance in the California Community College State Regional Playoffs. She was also the recipient of the 2009 Most Valuable Player and 2009 Coaches Award, recognized by the team.
In the community, along with her teammates, Ortiz served as an active volunteer with the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI) after-school program. As a coach and role model for 3rd through 5th grade girls at Glen View and Rod Kelley Elementary schools in Gilroy, she provided positive reinforcement through games and physical activity to over 100 children.
She was recognized three separate times this year as a Gavilan student-athlete of the month, more than any other student-athlete at the school.
