April 6, 2016

Student-Athletes from intercollegiate athletics departments around the State of South Carolina convened on the South Carolina State House Wednesday to take part in a recognition of National Student-Athlete Day.

National Student-Athlete Day was created by the National Consortium of Academics and Sports in 1987 and is celebrated annually on April 6. National Student-Athlete Day recognizes and honors the outstanding achievements of student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics, while having made significant contributions to their schools and communities.

Twenty-six South Carolina Universities were represented at the State House recognition.

A resolution was introduced in the South Carolina Senate Chambers by Sen. John Courson that stated, in part, Student-Athletes “bring widespread favorable exposure to our great State and their universities for the outstanding sportsmanship they show in competition. Their commendable sportsmanship is confirmation of the increased maturity these young people gain from participating in sports, as testified by the two-third of former student-athletes who agree that playing an NCAA sport helped prepare them for life after graduation.”

Kaleb Zuidema (Track & Field) and Litsa Darby (Beach Volleyball)

Student-athletes who took part in Wednesday’s recognition include:

University Student-Athletes (Sports)

Allen Kayla Pierce (Volleyball) and Sherod Wade (Men’s Basketball)

Benedict Danyelle Copeland (Women’s Tennis) and Dessie Demlew (Cross Country/Track & Field)

Charleston Southern Danielle Burnett (Women’s Track) and Solomon Brown (Football)

Claflin Jabari Brown (Baseball) and Chymaine Guinyard (Volleyball)

Clemson Sloan Shanahan (Women’s Golf) and Mauriq Hill (Men’s Soccer)

Coastal Carolina Nick Clark (Football) and Ellie Taylor (Women’s Soccer)

Coker Sydney Shull (Women’s Basketball) and Christopher Bordelon (Men’s Soccer)

College of Charleston Montana LeBoeuf (Women’s Soccer) and Cesar Murillo (Men’s Soccer)

Columbia College Janay Chisholm (Cross Country/Track) and BriAna Johnson (Women’s Basketball)

Converse Erin Horne (Women’s Basketball) and Laura Ann Dixon (Women’s Swimming)

Erskine Michael Byrd (Men’s Basketball) and Aaron Brown (Men’s Basketball)

Florence-Darlington Tech Sam Caldwell (Baseball) and Carlee Belk (Softball)

Furman Rose Hull (Women’s Soccer) and Kendrec Ferrara (Men’s Basketball)

Lander Kendall Korte (Volleyball) and Chris Krekeler (Men’s Soccer)

Limestone Titus Williams (Football) and Justin Crowder (Men’s Basketball)

Newberry Mitch Riggs (Men’s Basketball) and Mallory Gerndt (Softball)

North Greenville Jordan Farmer (Softball) and Micheal Thomas (Football)

South Carolina State Haley Austin (Women’s Soccer) and Brandon Perry (Men’s Track and Field)

Southern Wesleyan Ruben Rodriguez (Men’s Soccer) and Sarah Hughey (Volleyball)

The Citadel Rachel Keefer (Volleyball) and Tevin Floyd (Football)

USC Aiken Jordan Misiri (Men’s Soccer)

USC Beaufort Josh Roper (Men’s Track & Field) and Pamela Robinson (Women’s Track & Field)

USC Columbia Litsa Darby (Beach Volleyball) and Kaleb Zuidema (Men’s Track and Field)

USC Upstate Brittany Starling (Women’s Basketball) and Griffin Eubanks (Cross Country)

Winthrop Lacy Adams (Softball) and Magnus Thorsson (Men’s Soccer)

Wofford Robert Massey (Football)