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 May.
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.
May’s student-athletes of the month are Tommy LeBeau [Football], Ashley Lee [Gymnastics], Daniel Obioha [Track & Field], Jermauria Rasco [Football] and Montenae Roye-Speight [Track & Field]. Joseph Caraway [Track & Field] was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal CHAMPS/Student-Athlete Affairs Athlete of the Month.
Lebeau is majoring in mechanical engineering, while Lee and Rasco are majoring in sports administration. Obioha and Caraway are Human Movement majors, and Roye-Speight is a political communication major and French minor.
A junior pole vaulter from Lacassine, La., Caraway set a personal record at the 2011 SEC Indoor Championship, earning a tied fourth-place finish for the Tigers. Caraway is also a star in the community, as he recently took part in the AgMagic event where he led numerous tours for children through an agricultural maize. By assisting in the writing of the script, he also served as an integral part of the Mikie’s, helping the new event raise $1,000 for the Big Buddies organization.
Lebeau, a freshman defensive back from Monroe, will join the Tigers as a walk-on for the 2012 season. He was a Class 5A All-State Academic Selection and also lettered in baseball, soccer and tennis while at Ouachita Parish High School.
A senior gymnast from Vacaville, Calif., Lee concluded her LSU career this spring with an impressive four years as an all-around competitor. Her accolades speak for themselves, as she earned 2012 Second-Team All-SEC as well as Second-Team All-American in vault, preceding her First-Team All-American vault selection in 2010. Her academics did not falter from her success, as she still maintained a GPA to earn her SEC Academic Honor Roll in both 2011 and 2012.
Obioha, a junior track & field athlete from New Orleans, La., served LSU tremendously in his first season in 2011, where he proved to be one of the SEC’s top discus throwers. He is also a recipient of the LSU Scholar-Athlete Director’s Cup, which he earned at the Academic Gala.
A freshman defensive end from Shreveport, La., Rasco is expected to be a great asset to the Tigers in the upcoming season. In his first year, he instantly proved an asset to the defensive line, playing in nine games and posting two sacks.
Roye-Speight, freshman sprinter from St. Louis, Mo., achieved numerous accolades before even entering LSU, serving as one of the top 400-meter recruits in the nation. In 2010 she earned USATF Youth Indoor Champion in 4×400 and a silver medal in the Youth Indoor 400m and 4×100. Her final high school season earned her Junior Olympics Champion in 400m, 4×400 and 4×800.
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.