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Kurata Miller Big West Scholar-Athlete 2023

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Kurata, Miller Named Big West Scholar Athletes of the Year

The stories of all 22 scholar-athletes will be featured on ESPN+ on Tuesday, Aug. 29.

IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West announced the 22 individuals named Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year on Tuesday. Matthew Kurata (baseball) and Miranda Miller (women's track & field) were each recognized as Cal State Bakersfield Athletics' award winners. Two student-athletes from each institution – one male and one female – were honored by their institutions and the conference for their accomplishments in competition, in the classroom and in their communities. 

During the 2023 Baseball Season, Matthew Kurata stepped up as the backup catcher and utility player to become one of the best hitters in the conference, finishing third in The Big West with a .369 batting average. Kurata finished Top 3 on the Roadrunners in hits, runs, doubles, RBIs, slugging and on-base percentage, despite starting an average of ten less games than all other starters. The Cerritos, Calif. product has completed over 100 hours of community service with organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House, American Heart Association and the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter. Kurata has career aspirations to become a firefighter and boasts a 3.75 cumulative GPA as a business major.

Edler-Davis graduated from CSUB in Communications and made use of his extra time on campus to begin working on a second bachelor's degree in Liberal Studies. He hopes to be an ESPN analyst after his playing days.

Miranda Miller is now a two-time Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year honoree after winning the same accolade in 2022. Miller is a two-time Big West champion in the pole vault, holding the Roadrunner indoor and outdoor records, as well as the Big West Championship record in the event. The Manteca, Calif. native has logged over 120 hours of community service with various organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Bakersfield Marathon and Richardson Child Development.

Miller is starting a master's program in kinesiology this fall and plans to become a P.E. teacher.  As a kinesiology major, she graduated this past spring with a 3.95 GPA.

The Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year represent nearly 2,250 Big West student-athletes that made the Commissioner's Honor Roll, which requires a 3.0 GPA or better. Nearly half of those on the Honor Roll had a 3.5 GPA or better.

The stories and accomplishments of all 22 outstanding scholar-athletes will be featured on ESPN+ beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2022. The Big West Academic Honors Show premieres at Noon (PT).

All programs aired on ESPN networks are available on the ESPN App, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets, and connected devices to fans who receive their video subscription through an authenticated provider.

~GoRunners.com~
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Players Mentioned

Matthew Kurata

#8 Matthew Kurata

IF
5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
Miranda Miller

Miranda Miller

Jumps
5' 5"
Redshirt Junior

Players Mentioned

Matthew Kurata

#8 Matthew Kurata

5' 10"
Sophomore
R/R
IF
Miranda Miller

Miranda Miller

5' 5"
Redshirt Junior
Jumps
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