Ventura's Hull Gauges Victory in Grade Points

Source: latimes.com

TL;DR

The story at a glance

Ventura College, the only local junior college with a full-time academic athletic adviser, has boosted athlete graduation rates under Becky Hull, who oversees 460 athletes this semester. The piece profiles Hull's methods amid tougher 1987 California rules and NCAA standards pushing more marginal high school athletes to junior colleges. It highlights success like ex-Pirate DiJon Bernard transferring to Cal State Fullerton with strong grades. This comes as state commissioner Walter Rilliet praises model programs like Ventura's.

Key points

Details and context

Tighter rules mean junior colleges get more academically weak athletes who once slid through without real study. Hull compares school skills to sports drills: build them step by step. She wakes up athletes expecting just to "play softball," stressing student first.

Before advisers, overworked counselors gave bad info, costing scholarships. Ventura lacks statewide stats, but Hull's record stands out: near-perfect basketball grads over seven years.

Her approach includes hugs for good grades and tears at awards, proving "no such thing as a dumb jock—just untapped potential."

Key quotes

Why it matters

Junior colleges face pressure to produce educated athletes, not just players, reshaping the path from high school to Division I. Readers see how one adviser prevents scholarship losses and builds real skills for transfers. Watch if more California schools hire full-time advisers like Hull amid ongoing NCAA pushes.[[1]](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-26-sp-679-story.html)[[2]](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-26-sp-579-story.html)