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.
June 2008
Catherine Newman - Women's Tennis
Junior, Major: Civil Engineering
 Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
It had everything I wanted tennis wise, academically, and socially.
What are your career goals?
I want to pursue a career in Civil Engineering, hopefully working with an architect of some sort.
What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
Time management is the key.
How do you manage your demanding schedule?
Whenever I have a spare moment, I try to do something productive. If I have an hour in between classes, I'll try to bring work to do in between so I'm not wasting any time or finding myself sitting there.
What is your ritual before taking a test?
I don't really have a ritual. I just try to study early enough so that I get plenty of sleep the night before.
What is your favorite quote?
"In every contest there comes a moment that separates winning from losing. The true athlete understands and seizes that moment by giving an effort so intense and so intuitive that it could only be called one from the heart."
Why Catherine is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
The sky is the limit for Catherine as she encompasses everything you want in a student-athlete. She is a genuine individual who is always looking to better herself academically, athletically and socially. Catherine has a tremendous work ethic and is a person of great discipline. When not competing, she can be found nose-deep in an engineering text book in study hall or at the tennis center. She is a fierce competitor who is known throughout the country for her excellent speed and agility, which has translated into back-to-back honors on the All-SEC team. Catherine is a pleasure to work with and I look forward to watching her grow as a student, athlete and human being. --Shawn Fagan
Alex Washington - Football
Senior, Major: Human and Organizational Development
 Why did you choose to attend Vanderbilt?
A culmination of athletics and academics. It was the best of both worlds. A chance to get a great degree and play SEC football.
What are your career goals?
Accumulate a lot of capital. Turn capital into Wealth. Sustain Wealth and invest!
What does it take to be academically successful at Vanderbilt?
For me I just had to wake up. I asked myself what kind of person I wanted to be when football was done. Success is what I wanted so I had to make the necessary adjustments in the classroom to achieve those goals. Grad school would get me to the next level so I had to start making the grades that would reflect a grad school student. Just knowing what to do and how to get things done was paramount.
How do you manage your demanding schedule?
I like to keep a calender. That helps. My computer has a scheduling program as well. I also set cell phone reminders. Whatever needs to be done.
What is your ritual before taking a test?
Grab a red bull and GO HARD!!!
What are your favorite quotes?
"When I was young I used to think that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old, I know it is." --Oscar Wilde
"Life is a game. Money is how we keep score." --Ted Turner
Why Alex is a Student-Athlete of the Month . . .
It is my pleasure to nominate Alex Washington for the Student-Athlete of the Month. I have worked with Alex for three years now and have found him to be a very hard working and ambitious young man. He takes his work in the classroom and his work on the football field very seriously which has led him to success in both areas. Alex is very deserving of this honor. --Max Martin
Past Recipients...
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 |
