10 Briggs student athletes honored at the 2023 Academic Excellence Gala
April 13, 2023
Ten Lyman Briggs student athletes were celebrated at the 2023 MSU Academic Excellence Gala, an annual event recognizing student athletes who receive a 3.0 GPA and are in at least their third semester at MSU. The event is organized by the MSU Student Athlete Support Services Office.
Being a dedicated student in college (and especially in Briggs) demands time management skills, organization, and tenacity. These student athletes juggle many more schedule commitments and yet are still successful in the classroom and lab, as well as on the field, track, trail, court, or water. Congratulations to the following ten Briggsies!
- Julia Bajt, Cross Country and Track & Field, human biology major
- Kat Borders, Rowing, human biology major
- Abigail Carvey, Cross Country and Track & Field, neuroscience major
- Ashley Harlock, Field Hockey, neuroscience major
- Nick Hunter, Football, human biology major
- Sophia Lucki, Cross Country and Track & Field, human biology major
- Maja Pietrowicz, Tennis, physiology major
- Judy Rector, Cross Country and Track & Field, history, philosophy & sociology of science major
- Sophia Stauffer, Rowing, neuroscience major
- Kate Stewart-Barnett, Cross Country and Track & Field, Lyman Briggs major
We asked these students questions about their experiences as Briggsies and about being student athletes at a Division I school.
Kat Borders, junior, human biology major | Sport: rowing
Why did you choose to study at Lyman Briggs College?
I chose to study at Lyman Briggs because of the community, small class size, and standard of excellence. With the small class size at Briggs I’ve gotten to know many of my classmates and professors well, forming community, which is something I don’t often experience in regular university classes. I also have the opportunity to ask more questions and receive aid during class which can be intimidating in a large lecture hall. With the high standard of performance seen in each class, Lyman Briggs has provided me with a strong foundation to use in taking the MCAT and applying to medical school.
What makes you curious?
Learning new information has always made me curious, especially if it’s something complex or unordinary. I love to ask questions and learn more about others and new topics. I’m also curious to learn more about the human body as I hope to attend medical school in the future.
What advice do you have for students who want to participate in collegiate athletics and are considering a degree from LBC?
My advice to future student-athletes who may be considering a degree in Lyman Briggs is to learn how to manage your time. It is absolutely possible to be successful in both academics and athletics, but it’s important to put forth the effort and stay disciplined in managing your time and studying. I also recommend using the resources provided to you through athletics and SASS as well, as it can help to keep you on track and develop effective study habits.
How long have you participated in your sport?
This is only my third year rowing. I was recruited for rowing as a novice (with no previous rowing experience) because of my athletic background and was taught how to row my freshman year of college.
Abigail Carvey, sophomore, neuroscience | Sport: cross country and track & field
Why did you choose to study at Lyman Briggs College?
I chose LBC for the smaller classes, research opportunities, and to be surrounded by other highly motivated students.
What makes you curious?
I'm interested in going into research, and the fact that so much is unknown about the brain makes me curious.
What advice do you have for students who want to participate in collegiate athletics and are considering a degree from LBC?
I would highly recommend pursuing a degree from LBC as an athlete; the professors are amazing and very supportive. Everyone cares about your success in and outside of the classroom.
How long have you participated in your sport?
7 years
Ashley Harlock, junior, neuroscience and human biology, member of the Honors College | Sport: field hockey-center midfield
Why did you choose to study at Lyman Briggs College?
I chose to study at Lyman Briggs because I wanted to be challenged academically while being a part of the inclusive and collaborative community.
What makes you curious?
I am curious about the brain! As someone who has had several sport related concussions throughout my life, I have become very interested in learning about neuroscience. This has branched into curiosity about neurodegenerative disease, mental health, and drug addiction, which I get to research in my free time as a member of the Robison lab on campus.
What advice do you have for students who want to participate in collegiate athletics and are considering a degree from LBC?
The advice I have for any students who want to pursue athletics and LBC is to understand the commitment it is and make sure you are passionate about it. It can be a lot sometimes, but it is completely possible with good time management skills and help from classmates/friends. Having a busy schedule is a million times easier if you love everything you are doing!
How long have you participated in your sport?
I started playing field hockey in 2nd grade, so it has been about 13 years.
Nick Hunter, senior, human biology major | Sport: football-wide receiver
Why did you choose to study at Lyman Briggs College?
I chose Briggs because every LB course challenges you to learn more than the subject of the course itself, making you dive deep into the underlying social impacts of science. This application of sociology builds an intellectual understanding of the subject at hand, helping you later in your career.
What makes you curious?
The unknown.
What advice do you have for students who want to participate in collegiate athletics and are considering a degree from LBC?Don't focus on everything at once. Separate your life into 3 phases, your academic life, athletic life, and personal life. Focus on one phase of your life at a time and don't let them interfere with each other.
How long have you participated in your sport?
Ever since I can remember.
Sophia Lucki, sophomore, human biology major, bioethics minor | Sport: cross country and track and field
Why did you choose to study at Lyman Briggs College?
I chose to study at Lyman Briggs because I loved the idea of getting more of a wholistic and broad education in the sciences. I liked that other science classes, not related to my major, were required and I think that the HPS classes are extremely valuable to my education.
What makes you curious?
Something that makes me curious is the potential of the human body. I compete in a sport where we push ourselves to our limits every time we compete, and I think finding that limit and finding ways to push it even further is something that I find very interesting and inspiring.
What advice do you have for students who want to participate in collegiate athletics and are considering a degree from LBC?
I think that an LBC degree and college athletics have gone together extremely well. LBC allows me to pursue my academic passions while giving me the flexibility to participate in collegiate sports. All of the professors I have had have been extremely encouraging and helpful when it comes to navigating the balance.
How long have you participated in your sport?
I started running in the 9th grade and started pursuing it seriously in the 10th grade.
Maja Pietrowicz, fifth year, physiology major | Sport: tennis
Why did you choose to study at Lyman Briggs College?
I wanted to be part of a smaller community to find my place within academia. By arriving to campus as a member of a small team and attending a small high school, I was looking for a way to make campus smaller while also pursuing my interests. With an emphasis on a well-rounded curriculum that extended beyond disciplines in science, I knew that LBC was the choice for me.
What makes you curious?
From a young age, my parents and mentors alike encouraged me to question everything and to defend my arguments with fact-based reasoning. I found comfort in knowledge and sought to understand as much as I could in order to relay that new information back to my parents and to engage in meaningful conversation with others. Whether it be attempting to understand social inequalities or to explain physiological phenomena, I always found the problem solving and hypothetical conversation behind such topics fascinating.
What advice do you have for students who want to participate in collegiate athletics and are considering a degree from LBC?
Two big nuggets of advice would be: get your work done early and get to know your professors. Getting your work done early is crucial when in athletics. With the amount of travel you do and having to balance, essentially, two identities, it is always helpful to get assignments done early, so that you not only learn the material, but can also be prepared in case you need help or more time. As for getting to know your professors, it is always helpful to establish a good relationship with your instructor. By providing a chance for them to get to know you and you to know them, it is more likely for them to be accommodating and willing to work with your hectic schedule.
How long have you participated in your sport?
I have played tennis for 16 years now.