BATON ROUGE — The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes honored six LSU student-athletes for their academic achievements and community service for the month of April.
Ally Broussard, Marian Whitfield, Sam Mwape, Roly Rodriguez and Kristen Hobbs were selected as the student-athletes of the month for April, while Kody Bumpous was chosen the Shaquille O’Neal CHAMPS/Life Skills Student-Athlete of the Month.
Each month, five student-athletes will be honored for their academic improvement, dedication and proven ability. In addition, one student-athlete will be honored through the CHAMPS (Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success) program for their volunteerism and commitment to the community.
Broussard is a sophomore running back on the 2003 National Champion LSU football team. The Lafayette, La., native ranked third on the team in rushing last season and recorded a career-best 108 yards on the road at South Carolina. In the SEC Championship Game, he recorded a safety on a blocked punt in the endzone.
A freshman guard on the 2004 Final Four Lady Tiger basketball team, Whitfield played in three games this season before being sidelined with a broken bone in her leg. After undergoing surgery, the Augusta, Ga., native, suited up for her first game in almost three months on Feb. 22 against Mississippi State.
A native of Chingola, Zambia, Mwape is a distance runner on the NCAA men’s national champion track and field team. At the SEC Championships, the junior general studies major placed 10th in the 5,000 meters.
A freshman right-hander on the No. 2-ranked LSU baseball team, Rodriguez adds depth to the talented Tiger pitching staff. The Miami, Fla., native, earned 42 career wins at Southridge High School and he plans to major in business administration.
Hobbs is a freshman catcher on the fifth-ranked Tiger softball team. The Royal Palm Beach, Fla., native leads the team in fielding percentage this season and has thrown out five runners on steal attempts this season. Against Nicholls State, she hit a pair of doubles in the fourth inning as LSU batted around and scored a school-record 15 runs.
A freshman pitcher on the nationally ranked Tiger baseball team, Bumpous saw action during the fall intra-squad games, working 11.2 innings. The Ingrams Mill, Miss., native was elected to the Olive Branch High School Hall of Fame after earning first-team all-state honors in both baseball and football.
These are six student-athletes that have gone the extra mile during the past month. For their efforts, they will have their pictures displayed on the wall in the CCACSA.