BATON ROUGE — LSU setter/right side hitter Brittney Johnson was presented with the Jesse Owens Athletic Award Sunday as part of the Black Faculty and Staff Caucus’ 24th annual Black Scholars Awards Program at the Carl Maddox Field House on the LSU campus.
The award is presented to the African American student with the highest grade point average. Johnson, a sophomore business major, carries a 3.7 GPA.
“Brittney is an exceptional student-athlete who works hard and always goes the extra mile,” Cox Communications Academic Center Associate Director Dr. Mary Boudreaux said. “She is not only working on an accounting degree but is also completing the courses needed so that she can attend Pharmacy School when her LSU degree and volleyball career is complete.”
LSU Chancellor Michael Martin served as the keynote speaker to the program that recognized all African American students with grand point averages of 3.0 or above.
“We welcome opportunities like the Black Scholars Program to honor our students for their achievements,” Black Scholars Awards Program Co-Chair Yvette Marsh said. “We are especially proud of a student-athlete like Brittney who excels in both the academic and athletic arena.”
Johnson saw action in 20 matches and tallied 13 starts for the Tigers last season. She dished out a career-best 32 assists at No. 11 Florida. The Baton Rouge native also posted consecutive double-doubles highlighted by a 12-kill and 11-dig performance at Mississippi State.
LSU recently completed its spring season and is coming off its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Fran Flory. Seven of the Tigers eight returning letterwinners for the 2009 season appeared in at least 20 matches last season.