UCLA Athletics kicked off the 2017-18 academic year with the 12th annual "Welcome Back Bruins" Barbecue, sponsored by Wescom, on Sept. 27 at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center. UCLA student-athletes, coaches and staff gathered on the eve of the first day of classes for a welcome-back function that included food from Naples Rib Company, and the opportunity for new and returning Bruins to meet and mingle.
The student-athletes picked up their academic "swag" bag filled with school supplies and then headed to the barbecue picnic area where there was a carnival with games, prizes and a DJ.
The Donald R. Shepherd team academic awards were presented to the teams with the highest team grade point averages and the most improved GPAs. Don Shepherd awards $10,000 to the large team and the small team with the highest GPA and $5,000 to the large team and small team with the most improved GPA.
Beach volleyball won both of the awards in the small team category, earning $15,000 for the team's operational budget. Women's soccer won the most improved award for the large teams ($5,000) while women's swimming and diving won the highest GPA award for the large teams ($10,000).
LARGE TEAMS (12 squads)
Football, Women's Rowing, Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field, Baseball, Women's Swimming and Diving, Men's Soccer, Women's Water Polo, Men's Water Polo, Women's Cross Country, Women's Soccer and Softball.
SMALL TEAMS (11 squads)
Men's Cross Country, Women's Gymnastics, Men's Volleyball, Women's Beach Volleyball, Women's Volleyball, Men's Basketball, Men's Tennis, Women's Basketball, Men's Golf, Women's Golf and Women's Tennis.
Large Team Most Improved GPA
- Women's Soccer
- Men's Soccer
- Men's Water Polo
- Beach Volleyball
- Women's Basketball
- Women's Volleyball
- Women's Swimming and Diving
- Women's Soccer
- Women's Water Polo
- Beach Volleyball
- Men's Tennis
- Women's Tennis
