Christian Pacode Named CUNYAC Student-Athlete of the Year

May 18, 2016

“When I was growing up in Abidjan, people always told me to focus on one thing at a time. They told me I should spend less time on a soccer field and more time in the library. But I am someone who believes that with enough ambition and dedication anything can be achieved.” – Christian Pacode (CUNYAC Student-Athlete of the Year)

On Tuesday night at the 30th Annual Michael Steuerman Scholar-Athlete Awards Ceremony, Panthers soccer player Christian Pacode was honored for being the top student-athlete in the CUNY Athletic Conference. With student-athletes, coaches and staff from across the conference in attendance, Pacode delivered a memorable speech before receiving his award

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As a young soccer fan, Christian grew up idolizing Brazilian soccer superstar Ronaldinho, not just for his status as one of the greatest in a generation, but for his reputation as a charismatic leader and the level of respect he earned from his opponents. Many of these same traits can be seen in Christian today, as his coach Modou Seck puts it, “He is very committed to the team and is an example to his teammates for what he does on and off the field. I am very grateful to have had Christian for the past two seasons, he has been a leader since he came in on Day 1.”

Since his arrival at BMCC in FalL 2014, Pacode has been nothing short of exceptional in the classroom, earning a spot on the Dean’s list in each of his previous three semesters. Between classes, sports, jobs, and volunteering, Pacode has been busy over the last two years, but has still managed to keep school as a top priority. As an accounting major, Pacode has maintained an impressive 3.91cumulative grade point average during his time at BMCC. The sophomore uses his own success in the classroom to motivate his teammates to stay focused in school.

Pacode is completing his final semester at BMCC and will graduate this spring. He is currently deciding between Fordham, Manhattan, and SUNY Binghamton.  He will pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance or Accounting while continuing to play soccer. Regardless of where he attends in the fall, the future looks bright for Christian.

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