LSU Elite Honored at TAF Academic Excellence Gala
02/09/2009
by www.LSUsports.net
BATON ROUGE -- LSU recognized some of the school’s outstanding academic achievements by its student-athletes during the 2008 calendar year on Sunday night at the annual Tiger Athletic Foundation Academic Excellence Gala, which was held in the Stadium Club in Tiger Stadium
In all, LSU honored 177 of its student-athletes for achievement in the classroom during the 2008 academic year. To be listed as a recipient of the LSU scholar-athlete award, a student must be either a member of the LSU Director’s Cup or the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Some of the academic accomplishments of LSU student-athletes during 2008 include: 104 earning their degree, 43 percent posting a 3.0 grade point average or better, with 32 student-athletes maintaining a perfect 4.0 average for the spring and fall semesters.
In addition, LSU student-athletes were active in the community, spending a combined 2,600 hours of service in the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.
Individually, Brian Leveille of the men’s golf team and Lindsay Day of the women’s track team were named the 2008 TAF Male and Female Scholar Athletes of the Year. Leveille graduated in December of 2008 with a 3.857 grade point average in economics. Leveille is participating this spring as a graduate student as he is currently pursuing a master’s degree in finance.
Day received her diploma in December of 2008 with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Day, who graduated with a degree in kinesiology and human movement science, is scheduled to start physical therapy school in the fall.
Seven student-athletes were honored with the Wally Pontiff, Jr., Academic Excellence Award. That list included Ashleigh Clare-Kearney (gymnastics), 4.0 gpa in sports management graduate program; Nicole Kantor (women’s tennis), 3.911 gpa in mass communications; Lauren Klein (gymnastics), 3.961 gpa in biological sciences; David Impastato (football), 3.952 gpa in biological sciences; Anna Lyons (track and field), 4.0 gpa in kinesiology; and Day (track and field), 4.0 gpa in kinesiology.
Paige Brown of the LSU swimming and diving team was named the recipient of the Eye of the Tiger Award, which goes annually to the student-athlete who overcomes adversity in their life to succeed both in the classroom and in competition.
Brian Lee’s women’s soccer team was named the winner of the Tiger Cup, which goes to the team that combined to be the most productive in the areas of on-field success, academic accomplishment and community service participation.
On the field, the women’s soccer team captured the SEC Western Division title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for just the second time in school history in 2008. In the classroom, the team combined to post just under a 3.0 grade point average; and in the community, the squad contributed over 850 hours of service.
Football All-America Glenn Dorsey and women’s basketball standout Sylvia Fowles were named the recipients of the 2008 TAF Male and Female Athlete of the Year. Dorsey, a first round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs following his senior season, is the most decorated defensive player in school history as he captured four national awards – Lombardi, Outland, Nagurski and Lott – during his senior season.
Fowles was a part of four Final Four teams at LSU and was named the 2008 SEC Player of the Year as well as earning numerous All-America honors during his career with the Lady Tigers. Fowles collected an SEC record 86 double-doubles during her career and she’s the school’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,570), blocked shots (321), free throws (494) and free throws attempted (822.). Fowles recently completed her course requirements for graduation and will formally be presented with her degree in May.
LSU women’s golf coach Karen Bahnsen and Shreveport businessman Bo Campbell were recognized as the LSU Distinguished Alumni of the Year. Bahnsen, who played golf for the Lady Tigers in the early 80’s, is a 1984 graduate from LSU and has served as the golf coach at the school for 25 years. Campbell lettered in football and track for the Tigers and he played in both the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl during his career at LSU. Campbell graduated from LSU in 1963 with a degree in business.
Dr. Brent Boudreaux was named as the 2008 TAF Hall of Distinction inductee and Aimee Simon as the recipient of the 2008 Augie Cross Memorial Award.
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