BATON ROUGE ? LSU senior Anna Lyons has enjoyed an outstanding four-year career as a member of the track and field program, and she was honored during Friday’s commencement ceremony as a recipient of the University Medal for having the highest grade-point average of her graduating class.
Lyons maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during her four years at LSU and received her degree in kinesiology with a concentration in human movement on Friday morning.
A native of Ruston, La., Lyons wrapped up her career as a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Tigers and made an appearance in the javelin at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., this season. She also made four apperances at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships and SEC Championships.
Lyons recorded a new personal best mark of 168 feet, 11 inches during the 2009 season to rank No. 15 in the NCAA in 2009 and No. 4 on LSU’s all-time performance list in the event.
“We’re very proud of Anna for all that she has accomplished in her career at LSU,” said LSU head coach Dennis Shaver. “She embodies everything it means to be a student-athlete. We’re very fortunate for have someone of her stature representing our program. Anna is certainly deserving of such a great honor as the University Medalist, and we know she will be tremendously successful in whatever career she chooses.”
Lyons has been honored for her outstanding performance in the classroom throughout her career. She was a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI Second Team selection in 2008 and 2009, as well as a member of the 2009 NCAA Division I All-Academic Team released by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association last month.
She has also been honored as a two-time recipient of the Wally Pontiff Jr. Academic Excellence Award at LSU as presented by the Tiger Athletic Foundation at its annual Academic Excellence Gala.
The complete list of LSU student-athletes who graduated during Friday’s commencement exercises:
Agriculture
Kyna Washington (Volleyball), Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising
Arts & Sciences
Andrew Decker (Football), Communications Studies
Matthew Gaudet (Baseball), General Studies
Tayl’r Hollis (Softball), General Studies
R.J. Jackson (Football), General Studies
Jessica Ohanaja (Track and Field), General Studies
Jacob Simmons (Track and Field), General Studies
Erika Sluss (Softball), General Studies
Mesha Williams (Basketball), General Studies
Basic Sciences
Victoria Givens (Swimming and Diving), Biological Sciences (magna cum laude)
Business
Julius Gloeckner (Swimming and Diving), Finance
Jaclyn Moseley (Soccer), Management
Education
Anna Lyons (Track and Field), Kinesiology (University Medalist)
Mass Communication
Stephanie Cota (Swimming and Diving), Mass Communication
Graduate School
Ben Broussard (Track and Field), Business Administration
Kristi Esposito (Gymnastics), Education