BATON ROUGE, La. – The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes honored six student-athletes for their academic achievements and community service for the month of March.
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.
March’s student-athletes of the month are Allie Alter [Swimming and Diving], Sydney Bourg [Softball], K.J. Malone [Football], Duke Riley [Football] and Mandi Orellana [Sand Volleyball]. Laura Whalen [Volleyball] was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal Life Skills Program Student-Athlete of the Month.
Alter is a textiles, apparel and merchandising major, Bourg is a fitness studies major, Riley is a sport administration major, Malone is an interdisciplinary studies major, Orellana is a fitness studies major and Whalen is a kinesiology major.
Alter, a junior diver from New Albany, Ohio, is currently competing in the NCAA Zone ‘D’ Regional, trying to secure a spot in the NCAA Championships. She scored a 594.85 on the three-meter, coming in 17th place for her highest finish at the zone regional during her three years.
A freshman from Slidell, Louisiana, Bourg has started in four games on the diamond this season and has made appearances in eight. She earned her first career hit for the Tigers against Stephen F. Austin. During her time at Northshore High School, Bourg completed her softball career with a .747 batting average, earning all-state honors.
Malone, a sophomore offensive lineman from Ruston, Louisiana, played in five games for the Tigers during the 2014 football season. He is a physical run blocker who is versatile enough to play any position on the interior of the offensive line and is trying to solidify a spot on the line during spring practice currently.
A sophomore linebacker from Buras, Louisiana, Riley is a speedy linebacker that has the ability to put pressure on the quarterback and cover receivers down field. He entered spring practice coming off a 2014 campaign where he totaled 20 tackles and recovered one fumble after appearing in 13 games and starting in one.
Orellana is a freshman from Guatamela City, Guatemala, who is looking to make an impact on the sand volleyball team during its second season. Prior to LSU, Orellana was a member of the Guatemalan National Beach Volleyball Team. In February, she competed in the NORCECA Continental Cup in Nicaragua with her older sister, Maria José Orellana.
Whalen was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal Life Skills Program Student-Athlete of the Month for her dedication to the community, participating in numerous service events throughout her career, such as volunteering with the Big Buddy program. The senior defensive specialist from Littleton, Colorado, finished her career playing in 27 total matches and 91 combined sets played. During her two-year career, she earned 169 combined digs and averaged 1.68 per set.
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.
The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes is a 54,000 square foot facility comprised of an academic affairs, student affairs and an information technology team, serving more than 530 student-athletes. The purpose is to provide an all-inclusive, student-centered support structure for all student-athletes from matriculation, through graduation and life beyond.