(March 31, 2026) MARYSVILLE, CA — Yuba College track and field athlete Yuchua Yang has been named to the 2024–25 3C2A Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll, an achievement that recognizes his success both in the classroom and in competition.

The honor, awarded by the California Community College Athletic Association, highlights student-athletes who demonstrate excellence in academics and athletics. Candidates must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA, participate in at least two seasons of sport at a California community college and demonstrate strong leadership on campus or in their communities. With nearly 28,000 student-athletes participating annually in the association, the recognition represents one of the highest academic honors within California community college athletics.

For Yang, the recognition represents more than just a line on a résumé. It reflects years of discipline, consistency and effort, much of it happening behind the scenes.

“It was a moment of profound validation,” Yang said. “Being selected as a 3C2A Scholar-Athlete felt like the culmination of every early morning and late-night study session that others didn’t see. It wasn’t just about the athletic recognition, it was also about being acknowledged for the balance required to excel in both arenas.”

Maintaining balance has been a defining part of Yang’s journey. As a standout in track and field, he maintained a 4.0 GPA while competing at a high level. He earned All-American honors at Yuba College and ranked No. 3 in the state in the hammer throw, an accomplishment that reflects both his athletic ability and discipline.

“It really comes down to meticulous time management and treating my academics with the same intensity as my sport,” Yang said. “As a student-athlete, your schedule is rigid, so I utilize every gap in my day to track and finish assignments or studying during travel. When I’m in the lab or the classroom, I’m 100% a student, and when I’m on the field, I’m 100% an athlete.”

Yang’s path to success was not guaranteed from the start. He joined Yuba College as a walk-on, without a scholarship or a secured spot on the team, forcing him to prove himself every day.

“Coming to Yuba as a walk-on was a defining chapter,” Yang said. “When you don’t have a scholarship or a guaranteed spot, you have to prove your worth every single day. You learn quickly that nothing is given, and everything is earned.”

That experience, he said, shaped the mindset he continues to carry with him.

“That experience stripped away any sense of entitlement and replaced it with a chip on my shoulder mindset that I still carry today at the Division I level,” Yang said.
According to Yuba College track and field coach Howdy Atkinson, that mindset and work ethic have defined Yang from the very beginning.

“What stands out most about Chu is his work ethic,” Atkinson said. “That started way before Yuba. In high school he didn’t even have a throws coach, but he was still out there every Sunday getting work in, either by himself or leading his friends through sessions.”

Atkinson said Yang’s consistency shows up in the small details just as much as in competition.

“From day one, he just put his head down and worked,” Atkinson said. “First one there, last one to leave, and every day he was the one cleaning up and putting everything away without being asked.”

Even after practice, Yang continued to look for ways to improve.

“One thing I’ll always remember is after practice, when everyone else was done, Chu was still there picking up and putting equipment away,” Atkinson said. “After that, he would usually come sit with me for a bit. Sometimes we would talk, sometimes he would just listen. Those moments showed how much he cared about improving.”

Yang said his drive comes from a belief that effort is something he can always control, regardless of natural ability.

“That drive comes from a deep-seated belief that discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment,” Yang said. “I’ve always felt that while I might not be the most naturally gifted person in the room, I can always control how hard I work.”

That same approach carries over into how he leads his teammates.

“I’ve always believed that actions carry more weight than words,” Yang said. “My leadership style is centered on consistency. I try to be the first one at practice and the last one to leave, showing my teammates what’s possible through work ethic rather than just telling them.”

Atkinson said that leadership style has made Yang an example for others in the program.

“He is not a loud person, but he leads by what he does,” Atkinson said.

Yuba College Director of Kinesiology, Health and Athletics Erick Burns said the college takes pride in seeing student-athletes like Yang recognized for their efforts.
“I think the whole college takes pride when any and all of our students are being awarded for their efforts at the college and in representing the college,” Burns said. “The best part of all of our jobs is seeing one of ours do well, get recognition, and be prideful to have gotten their start at Yuba College.”

Burns also emphasized the role coaches play in supporting student-athletes academically, helping them stay on track throughout their time at the college.

“The coaches put in a lot of effort staying on the student-athlete’s academic progress by asking about it regularly, looking at transcripts every semester break and making sure they are attending study hall,” Burns said. “We can provide additional intervention if a student-athlete is struggling or falling behind.”

To Yang, the recognition is not just about what he has accomplished, but what he built during his time at Yuba College.

“Being named a 3C2A Scholar-Athlete is a reminder of where I started,” Yang said. “It represents the foundation I built at the community college level: the grit, the late nights and the academic rigor. It’s a testament to the idea that you don’t have to choose between being a great athlete and a great student.”

Yang will be honored at the 3C2A Scholar-Athlete Luncheon on April 1 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport as part of the association’s annual convention.

About Yuba College
Yuba College, located at 2088 North Beale Rd., Marysville, CA, has been providing quality education to the residents of the Yuba-Sutter area for more than 98 years. The 180-acre college opened its doors in 1927 and offers classes in over 90 programs that prepare students for a certificate, associate degree, or transfer to a four-year college. There are more than 10,000 students enrolled at Yuba College. For more information about Yuba College, please visit the website at yc.yccd.edu.

In addition to the main campus in Marysville, Yuba College operates the Sutter County Center and it is part of a two college District which covers 4,192 square miles and all or part of eight counties.

Media Contacts:
Chrystal Gillming
Director of Public Information
Yuba Community College District
530-741-6992 | cgillming@yccd.edu