Nominated by Karen August, Michihiro Sugata and Lori Cortez-Regan

Alexia (Lex) demonstrates the delicate balance required to participate in team athletics and academics while being involved at the community level by giving volunteer hours to local agencies. As a Criminology & Justice Studies (CJS) major, Lex plans to become a juvenile probation officer or juvenile counselor. Lex has maximized her expertise giving service to both team and support organizations beginning early in her academic career. Lex is a strong student-never missing class beyond out of area team events. She assumes the responsibility of capturing any material while away by communicating her needs and plans with her faculty. Lex is an inspiration to her classmates – and faculty - whether on or off the field.

Lori Cortez-Regan, CJS/SOC faculty writes of Lex, “Hard worker, responsible, great quality work, truly engaged in subject matter and all of this despite being tired from practice or traveling from games.” From Michihiro Sugata, CJS Coordinator, we hear "Being a student athlete is an incredibly challenging endeavor - the extensive travel and outside commitments often result in students not being able to give their full focus to their studies. However, to see Alexia in the classroom you would never know that outside distractions existed. She enters the class not only prepared but energized and excited about learning. She engages deeply with the course material and is thoughtful about the work she produces. I remember talking to her after class early last semester. We were discussing criminological theory and Alexia had this glow about her. She said, "I liked the other classes, but this stuff I really like!" Admittedly, I was a little surprised because theory is not typically what students tend to enjoy - when I asked her why she liked it, she responded, "because it makes me really think." It was a simple answer and yet it reveals so much about Alexia. She is not someone who comes to class because she plays basketball. She is here to learn: she wants to be challenged, she wants to think - she wants to figure things out for herself and understand the problems we face in this world. I'll put her on my team any day of the week!"