California State University Northridge Athletics
Photo by: Leroy Yau
Tatiana Smeltzer Receives Big West Service and Leadership Award
7/12/2024 11:01:00 AM | General, Women's Water Polo
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---CSUN Water Polo's Tatiana Smeltzer was one-of-11 recipients of 2023-24 Big West Leadership and Service Award, as announced by the conference office on July 10. Smeltzer, who completed her senior season with the Matadors in 2024, became the fifth CSUN student-athlete to earn the award.
A Paso Robles native, Smeltzer graduated from CSUN in May with a double major in Management and Marketing with Cum Laude honors. Smeltzer has served as president and vice president of the CSUN Student-Athlete Advisory Committee over the past three years while she has volunteered at a multitude of CSUN community service events including National Athletic Training Month, Women's History Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. She has also organized Red Rally games at CSUN along with helped lead and plan the first annual Mattys awards ceremony for athletes and administration.
In addition, Smeltzer also organized the 2024 Canned Food Drive to Hope of the Valley and Path Partners. Through SAAC, Smeltzer helped organize teams to read at nearby Granada Hills Elementary School. She would also volunteer as a coach for Youth Water Polo South Coast.
In the pool, Smeltzer lettered three seasons with CSUN from 2021-24. She helped CSUN post a pair of winning seasons over the past two years including achieving the program's most wins in 10 seasons in 2024 with an 18-15 record. Smeltzer competed in 81 total games with CSUN over her career, registering 32 goals, 40 points, 43 steals and 17 field blocks. She is a three-time Big West All-Academic Team and three-time ACWPC All-Academic Team honoree.
Previous CSUN recipients of the Big West Leadership and Service Award include Elle Laur (women's golf, 2022-23), Taylor Thames (women's soccer and women's track & field, 2021-22), Ashlee Sellung (women's water polo, 2019-20) and Erin Indermill (women's volleyball and beach volleyball, 2018-19).
The Big West has celebrated student-athletes for the Service and Leadership Award annually, since the 2017-18 academic year. The award winners are selected at the discretion of each member-institution with criteria encompassing service, leadership, and academics.
Each member-institution may submit one honoree per academic year who participates in a Big West sponsored sport and who engages consistently in service and leadership activities that impact the campus, community or regional levels. The awardee makes the most of the opportunities presented to them by taking on key roles and is innovative in seeking out meaningful service and leadership opportunities, while keeping their academic eligibility on their respective team.Â
#GoMatadors
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A Paso Robles native, Smeltzer graduated from CSUN in May with a double major in Management and Marketing with Cum Laude honors. Smeltzer has served as president and vice president of the CSUN Student-Athlete Advisory Committee over the past three years while she has volunteered at a multitude of CSUN community service events including National Athletic Training Month, Women's History Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. She has also organized Red Rally games at CSUN along with helped lead and plan the first annual Mattys awards ceremony for athletes and administration.
In addition, Smeltzer also organized the 2024 Canned Food Drive to Hope of the Valley and Path Partners. Through SAAC, Smeltzer helped organize teams to read at nearby Granada Hills Elementary School. She would also volunteer as a coach for Youth Water Polo South Coast.
In the pool, Smeltzer lettered three seasons with CSUN from 2021-24. She helped CSUN post a pair of winning seasons over the past two years including achieving the program's most wins in 10 seasons in 2024 with an 18-15 record. Smeltzer competed in 81 total games with CSUN over her career, registering 32 goals, 40 points, 43 steals and 17 field blocks. She is a three-time Big West All-Academic Team and three-time ACWPC All-Academic Team honoree.
Previous CSUN recipients of the Big West Leadership and Service Award include Elle Laur (women's golf, 2022-23), Taylor Thames (women's soccer and women's track & field, 2021-22), Ashlee Sellung (women's water polo, 2019-20) and Erin Indermill (women's volleyball and beach volleyball, 2018-19).
The Big West has celebrated student-athletes for the Service and Leadership Award annually, since the 2017-18 academic year. The award winners are selected at the discretion of each member-institution with criteria encompassing service, leadership, and academics.
Each member-institution may submit one honoree per academic year who participates in a Big West sponsored sport and who engages consistently in service and leadership activities that impact the campus, community or regional levels. The awardee makes the most of the opportunities presented to them by taking on key roles and is innovative in seeking out meaningful service and leadership opportunities, while keeping their academic eligibility on their respective team.Â
#GoMatadors
Â
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