MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College athletes are the recipients for the first-ever President's Cup, recognizing academic achievement in college athletics in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

BBCC placed first in the division for schools with seven sports or fewer; Walla Walla Community College took the cup among schools with eight or more sports. Big Bend offers men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball.

Schools were evaluated on a scoring system that included the number of student athletes who completed 36 credits, the number who completed 72 credits, grade point average, degree and certificate completion, Doug Sly, the college's public information director, said.

"This highlights the quality of student athletes our coaches are recruiting and the success of BBCC's academic and support programs," Athletic Director Preston Wilks said. Wilks also coaches women's basketball.

"Wonderful news for coaches, student athletes and the people of the campus who worked so hard to achieve this award," BBCC President Terry Leas said.

The award will be presented Nov. 7.

Eight finalists were chosen from among the NWAACC's 34 schools, Sly said, four in each division. Small school finalists were BBCC, Blue Mountain Community in Pendleton, Ore., Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore. and Wenatchee Valley College.

The finalists among bigger schools were WWCC, Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore., Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Ore. and Community Colleges of Spokane.