Student-Athletes of the Month
*The Student-Athletes of the Month are selected on the basis of the all-around student-athlete...effort and excellence in academics, leadership, integrity, dedication to team, campus involvement, community service, and the ability to serve as role models for current and future VU students and student-athletes.
August 2008
Caleb Cotham - Baseball
Junior, Major: Economics
Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
 I chose Vanderbilt because I grew up loving everything about the school, academics and sports. When the opportunity arose to play baseball, I knew Vanderbilt was right for me.
What are your career goals?
My career goals are to be successful enough in whatever I do to provide a good life for myself and my family.
What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
To be sucessful academically at Vanderbilt, you must manage your time very wisely. You have to make the most of the little free time given to you due to sports. If you efficiently use that time I believe you will do fine in school.
How do you manage your demanding schedule?
I manage my schedule by not really panicking about anything too much. Things can get hectic, but I try to use my time off to study so that assigments do not snowball into having to do it all in one night.
What is your ritual before taking a test?
I like to get a good breakfast and study over my notes multiple times right before the test.
What is your favorite quote?
"Why so serious?"
Why Caleb is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
Caleb is a perfect example of the ideal Vanderbilt student-athlete. In the classroom, he is a gifted, hardworking, and thorough student who is concerned about his future success. On the field, Caleb is a talented, committed, and quiet leader who is widely respected by his teammates and coaches. Personally, he is a trustworthy, honest, loyal, and friendly individual. Because of his well-rounded abilities, Caleb will be very successful in life and I am excited to follow his future endeavors. --Katie Feyes
Matt Long - Men's Cross Country
Senior, Major: Anthropology
Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
 I really wanted to run in college while being able to study at an elite academic school. Once I came on the recruiting trip, the guys on the team were unlike any other I had visited and I immediately decided to come here.
What are your career goals?
After I graduate, I want to turn professional in Triathlon. I plan to live at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, in hopes to make the 2012 Olympic Team. After that, I would really like to become a professor of Archaeology.
What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
It takes a combination of time management and hardwork. If you can figure out blocks of time where you can just sit down and grind without distractions you can succeed academically while still having plenty of time to relax!
How do you manage your demanding schedule?
When I'm full in-season for triathlon, I'm logging anywhere between 20-25 hours a week so it becomes very tight schedule-wise with classes and cross country. It really comes down to just effectively managing my time, because there's not a lot to spare!
What is your ritual before taking a test?
I always try to take tests at Vandy with my "lucky pencil" which is what I used earlier in the year and did really well on that earlier test, thus making it lucky. The problem is I tend to lose it fairly often so many times I find myself walking into tests going, "This is gonna be ugly."
What is your favorite quote?
"They shall know no fear, for they are fear incarnate."
Why Matt is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
Matt is an outstanding ambassador for Vanderbilt Student Athletics. Throughout his career at Vanderbilt, he has proven his commitment to excellence as he challenges his mind, body and spirit. He is a dedicated student, a devoted runner and an Olympic hopeful. He embodies the ideal student as a person of great integrity, honesty and trust. This summer Matt finished fourth in his first Triathlon World Championships, and was invited to attend the USA Triathlon Development Camp at the Olympic Training Center in preparation for the 2012 Olympics. Besides competing in the Olympics, Matt hopes to become a professor of Archaeology – Lance Armstrong meets Indiana Jones! I wish Matt all the best in achieving his future goals and will be pulling for him in 2012. --Shawn Fagan
Past Recipients...
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005
Academic Support for Student-Athletes | Vanderbilt University
Department of Student Athletics | 2601 Jess Neely Drive | Nashville, TN 37212
Phone (615) 343-0444 |
