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.
January 2009
Ryan Hamilton - Football
Senior, Major: Economics
Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
 I chose Vanderbilt because I wanted to play in the best college football conference in the country and also get a degree from one of the top universities in the country.
What are your career goals?
My career goal is to reach happiness by making a lot of money.
What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
You just need to make sure you get all your work done and try not to fall behind.
How do you manage your demanding schedule?
I have learned to balance football and my school work by taking them both seriously and finding time to work hard at both.
What is your ritual before taking a test?
I cram in some additional studying before the test.
What is your favorite quote?
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." -Anonymous
Why Ryan is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
Ryan Hamilton is a strong student and a leader amongst his peers. He had an outstanding fall semester academically and is on pace to graduate in the fall. Athletically, he provided huge plays for us throughout the season, particularly versus Ole Miss and Boston College in the Music City Bowl. Ryan will continue to be counted on as a leader on our team and we all look forward to seeing him have more success in the future. -Sterling Frierson
Jessica Mooney - Women's Basketball
Junior, Major: Human and Organizational Development
Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
 I used to attend the Vanderbilt games when I was younger, so I have been a Vanderbilt fan for a long time. It was my dream school.
What are your career goals?
I do not know exactly what I would like my career to be. However, I do know that I want to help people in some way, I just do not know how...yet.
What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
You have to be a hard worker and mature enough to manage your time well.
How do you manage your demanding schedule?
I manage my schedule by doing a lot of work on the road, and I look at my schedule ahead of time in order to plan when I will have time to do work.
What is your ritual before taking a test?
I take notes on my computer during class. Then, before a test, I copy and paste my notes into a study guide so that I can study easier. I usually read over my study guide the morning of the test, as well as the night before.
What is your favorite quote?
“God will never put more on you than you can bear.” -Anonymous
Why Jessica is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
Jessica has grown into a leader both on and off the court. As a basketball player, she is intense, motivated and driven. Although she is the reigning SEC co-sixth woman of the year, this year Jessica has jumped into the starting lineup. She is a key factor as to why the Women’s Basketball team wins games!
Off the court, Jess is an intelligent, capable, dedicated, and affable person who can handle anything that comes her way. She is the one that her teammates look to for guidance, for leadership and for fun. This past semester she has proved that not only is she a dynamic athlete, she is a strong student as well.
There is no ceiling for the amount of potential Jessica has. Jessica had a great fall semester! She has made me proud and I am sure she will continue to do so for the rest of her career at Vanderbilt. We are expecting big things from Jessica in the years to come. Knowing Jessica, she will not disappoint, and probably will exceed our expectations. -Christy Hogan
Past Recipients...
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
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 |
