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 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 Stephen Sullivan [Football], Julianna Cannamela [Gymnastics], Doug Norman [Baseball], Chloe Jackson [Women’s Basketball] and Ashley Welborn [Women’s Track and Field]. Kylie Moran [Gymnastics] was selected as the Shaquille O’Neal Life Skills Program Student-Athlete of the Month.
Sullivan is an interdisciplinary studies major; Cannamela is a Mass Communications major; Norman and Jackson are sports administration majors; Welborn is a math major and Moran is a kinesiology major.
Sullivan is a freshman on the football team and is from Donaldsonville, Louisiana. In his debut season in 2016, he made seven appearances.
Cannamela is entering her sophomore season on the gymnastics team. The Waxhaw, North Carolina native competed in all four events (vault, bars, beam, and floor) during her freshman year. She saved her best of last season for the NCAA Super Six when she scored a 9.90 on vault and a 9.85 on beam to help the Tigers become national runners-up.
Norman is a junior pitcher on the baseball team from Fort Mill, South Carolina. Last season, he posted a 3.41 era. In 23 appearances he gave up a batting average of .230. Prior to coming to LSU, Norman was a Rawlings First-Team All-American.
Jackson is in her redshirt sophomore season at LSU. Prior to arriving, the Upper Marlboro, Maryland native made four appearances in an NCAA game. Her pre-collegiate career saw her average 17.3 points per game while developing into the 19th best guard in the class of 2014 according to ESPNW.
Welborn is a senior on women’s track and field team from Knoxville, Tennessee. She is a distance runner competing in the mile, 3,000 meter, 5,000 meter, and has competed with the cross country team as well. At the Power Five Conference Clash she posted a seasonal best time of 18:13.39 in the 5k.
Moran 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 LSU career. She battled an injury during her sophomore season that left her unable to compete, although she did reel in her second consecutive SEC Academic Honor Roll selection. In 2015, she was named as an NACGC/W Scholastic All-American. The junior from St. Petersburg, Florida, was a three-time qualifier to the Eastern National Championships prior to arriving at LSU.
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.