BATON ROUGE – The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes honored six LSU student-athletes as part of their academic achievements and community service for December.
Each month, five student-athletes are recognized for their academic improvement, dedication and proven ability. In addition, one student-athlete is chosen through LSU’s Student-Athlete Affairs program for their volunteerism and commitment to the community.
December’s student-athletes of the month are Chase Clement [Football], Ben Domingue [Football], Austin Ernst [Women’s Golf], Marissa Maas [Volleyball] and Ebie Wilson [Women’s Tennis]. Craig Loston [Football] was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal CHAMPS/Student-Athlete Affairs Athlete of the Month.
Clement and Loston are general studies majors, and Clement adds minors in business, sociology and communication studies. Domingue is majoring in international trade & finance, while Ernst is a business major. Maas has an undeclared major whereas Wilson is majoring in kinesiology.
A sophomore safety from Houston, Texas, Loston has not allowed a record-breaking season to withhold him from serving the community. A player that truly values his fans, he’s made numerous hospital visits to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. There, he walks from room to room to visit the children as well as hand out t-shirts and autographs to the young patients. Loston also recently served as a motivational speaker at a youth flag football team banquet where he encouraged teamwork and good sportsmanship. On the field, Loston has appeared in 10 games and notched a career-high seven tackles during the Auburn win.
Clement, a junior tight end from Thibodaux, La., has contributed tremendously to the offense and special teams in 2011. He has tallied seven receptions for 96 yards and touchdown, including multiple catches against Auburn and Alabama.
A sophomore center from Lafayette, La., Domingue earned SEC Academic Honor Roll during the Fall of 2010, commending his hard work to maintain a high grade point average throughout the season. He has seen action in six career games, including five contests this season.
Ernst, a sophomore golfer from Seneca, S.C., has racked up numerous accolades in her young collegiate career, including becoming a 2011 NCAA Division I Women’s Championship medalist as the nation’s individual champion and being named as both a NGCA and Golfweek First-team All-American in 2011. She’s contributed tremendously to her program this season as well, as she recently received a gold medal for the Spirit International Amateur golf title. Her academics have not taken a back seat to her career, however, as she was also named to the 2011 NGCA All-Scholar Athlete Team as well as the Freshman SEC Academic Honor Roll.
A freshman middle blocker from Richmond, Texas, Maas averaged 1.10 kills and 0.73 blocks per set as LSU claimed its seventh consecutive SEC Western Division title. She belted a career-high 10 kills against Grambling State and her .909 hitting percentage was the second-highest clip for a player attempting 10-14 swings in program history. Maas also recorded a block during 12 of her 14 appearances.
Wilson, a junior tennis player from Mobile, Ala., set new records during her sophomore season, as she achieved a team-leading 18-12 overall record en route to First Team All-Louisiana honors. Not only is she committed to her team, but also to her academics and the community. Wilson earned a spot on the 2011 SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll. Earlier this semester, she also took part in the annual Halloween BOOzar, where she met young trick-or-treaters, signed autographs and took pictures with LSU athletics fans.
For putting forth extra effort in the classroom and community in addition to their rigorous academic and competition schedules, these six student-athletes will have their pictures displayed on the wall in the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.