THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (May 29, 2026) – Many members of the Moorpark College athletics community gathered at the Los Robles Greens for the 2026 Scholar Athlete Banquet on May 13, 2026 where 178 student-athletes were recognized for academic accomplishments.

Scholar-athlete awards were distributed to all student-athletes who maintained a cumulative 3.5 or higher grade point average (GPA). In addition, both male and female Character Award, Athlete of the Year and Scholar-Athlete awards were announced.

The 2025-26 Female Athlete of the Year was presented to sophomore Maya Natarajan who rewrote record books and set standards above those previously in place at Moorpark College during her final cross country and track and field seasons. A two-time state champion in her final year, Natarajan won the 2025 California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) cross country State title after claiming the 3C2A SoCal Regional crown and the Western State Conference (WSC) individual championship en route to guiding the Raiders to a team title as well. She went on to run on the track this spring, earning yet another 3C2A State title in the 5,000m. Academically, she has maintained a 4.0 GPA as a Political Science major and will be transferring to UC Berkley.

Distance coach Maggie Shearer reflected, "Maya is coachable, diligent and motivated, embracing every part of the process. The resilience, discipline and mindset she has developed will carry into every future pursuit, whether professional or athletic. I am incredibly proud of Maya and excited to see all she does."

Sophomore men's soccer standout, Uziel Diaz was selected as the Moorpark College Male Athlete of the Year in 2025-26 after being named the 2025 WSC co-Offensive Player of the Year. He guided the Raiders to a postseason berth for the first time in 12 years by scoring 14 goals, including a four-goal game. A Business Administration major with an emphasis in Accounting, Diaz's successes spilled off the field into the classrooms where he accumulated a 3.84 GPA. He will be continuing his education at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the fall.

"Uzi is a gem. A rare combination of grace, strength, athleticism and a mental toughness that has now resulted in a high collegiate honor," said head men's soccer coach Jake Gwin. "From day one, Uzi was a model of consistency and reliability. His maturity both on and off the field is hard to find with young men these days. He played out of his favored position almost all year, but made the best of it and gave us a season to remember because of his sacrifice."

After bouncing back from a serious head injury this Fall, sophomore Mia Woods was determined to work her way back into the women's soccer lineup and was cleared to play for the Raiders under very strict protocols. The limits did not stop the team captain from dominating on the pitch, scoring twice in her final MC game, and propelling her into the conversation to become the 2026 Diane Costabile Character Champion. Woods will be transferring to Point Loma University to pursue a career in Elementary Education.

Women's soccer head coach Kai Werring shared, "Mia is one of the most competitive players I've ever coached. She'll do anything for the win and to support her team. Through tough injuries and setbacks, she always continued and we are so proud of her character."

Football captain Nolan Story was a leader on and off the field for the Raiders and was instrumental in the success of the team this fall during his sophomore campaign. His skill, initiative and perseverance on the field coupled with his academic excellence (3.79 GPA) led him to a selection as the 2026 John Keever Character Champion this year. He has already transferred to the University of San Diego where he received an academic and athletic scholarship.

Head football coach, Mike Stuart said, "Nolan represents everything you want in a student-athlete; toughness, leadership, faith, resilience, and consistency. He battled through adversity early in his career, stayed committed to the process and became one of the best players and leaders our program has ever had. He's the type of person who positively impacts everyone around him and I truly believe players like Nolan can never be replaced."

A sophomore softball standout, Kailey Greene has overcome learning challenges to earn a 3.78 GPA while captaining the softball squad, which resulted in her selection as the 2025-26 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year for the Raiders. A grand slam in her final home game at MC was a remarkable exclamation point on her successes on the field, to go along with her accomplishment in the classroom. A future Biology major plans to continue her career, but her destination is undecided at the moment.

"Kailey's academic discipline is matched by her performance in athletics, where she continues to elevate her level of play each season," said head softball coach Delaney Diaz. "Her ability to manage a rigorous academic workload while competing at a high level speaks to her work ethic, time management and commitment to excellence. Kailey represents the standard of what a Scholar-Athlete should be and is highly deserving of this recognition."

As an international student, overcoming numerous obstacles that were out of his control forced Alejandro Barreto to work harder than others to even be here at Moorpark, not to mention excelling both on the soccer field and in the classroom. A language barrier, different styles of soccer, academic challenges and international conflicts never deterred the Venezuelan native who dug deep and continued on his path to earn a degree and play at a high level of soccer. He succeeded in ESL classes and went on to earn a 4.0 GPA. Barreto has been admitted to several universities around the United States where he will pursue a degree in Business and Economics. For his efforts, he was selected as the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.

When asked about his value to the men's soccer program, Gwin said, "Ale is the definition of grit and persistence. After a tough first year, he kept with it and believed in our vision. He became a massive part of what we accomplished this past season. He brought that South American warrior mentality of self-sacrifice and team first mantra, which helped galvanize this group. In this short time here with us, he has become a valued member of our community and a model of discipline, dedication, and success."

Each student-athlete has left an impact on the College that will continue to mold the future for years to come.

The banquet marked the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic and athletic year for the Raiders.

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