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 October.
Each month, five student-athletes are recognized for their academic improvement, dedication and proven ability. In addition, one student-athlete is chosen through the CHAMPS Challenging Athletes Minds for Personal Success program for their volunteerism and commitment to the community.
October’s Student-Athletes of the Month are Jordan Jefferson [Football], Audrey Lawson [Women’s Swimming], Brittany Porter [Women’s Track & Field], Shelby Prunty [Gymnastics] and Adrienne Webb [Women’s Basketball]. Ashley Applegate [Softball] was chosen as the Shaquille O’Neal CHAMPS/Life Skills Student-Athlete of the Month.
Jefferson and Prunty are sports administration majors, while Applegate is majoring in elementary education. Porter is a member of the University College Center for Freshman Year (UCFY). The UCFY is an academic unit to help freshmen define their academic and career goals. Lawson is biology major, while Webb is majoring in kinesiology with a focus in pre-physical therapy.
A junior outfielder from Modesto, Calif., Applegate is softball’s representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). She organized the team’s involvement in the SEC Together We CAN Food Drive as the squad collected cans at the Tennessee and Kentucky volleyball matches for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. Applegate, a member of the 2009 SEC Softball Community Service Team, hit .281, collected 22 RBIs and was one of four Tigers to reach to double-digit, multi-hit games last season.
Jefferson, a sophomore quarterback from St. Rose, has led the football team to a 4-0 start as the Tigers have risen to No. 4 in the national rankings. He has completed 61.4 percent of his passes and thrown for 708 yards, including a career-best 233 yards at Mississippi State. Jefferson also has tossed multiple touchdown passes in three of four games, including a career-high three at Washington.
A freshman swimmer from Erlanger, Ky., Lawson should be one of the team’s top 200-yard butterfly performers in 2009-10 after finishing 13th overall at the 2009 U.S. Open. Her top time of 2:13.88 in the 200-meter butterfly was the fifth-fastest time for her age group in the country last season.
Porter, a freshman jumper from Decatur, Ga., joins the women’s track and field program as the nation’s No. 1-ranked long jumper in the high school ranks for the Class of 2009. She set an overall personal best mark of 20 feet, 7 ? inches to win the long jump title at the 2009 Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston. Porter also is an outstanding triple jumper with a personal best of 40-6 in the event.
A freshman gymnast from Hanover Park, Ill., Prunty is expected to be a heavy contributor and is training to be an all-arounder in 2009-10 as the Tigers hope to earn a third-straight NCAA Super Six appearance. She captured the Illinois state bars championship as a senior. Prunty also has won titles on bars, beam and floor throughout her time in club gymnastics.
Webb, a freshman guard from Madison, Ala., comes to LSU after being named the 2009 Gatorade Alabama Player of the Year after posting 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game as a senior. Her high school team compiled an impressive 115-14 record during her career. Webb also was ranked No. 47 overall player in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz.com
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 CCACSA.