LSU SPORTS INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 8, 2015

DECEMBER STUDENT-ATHLETES OF THE MONTH
BATON ROUGE, La. The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes
honored six LSU student-athletes for their academic achievements and community service for
December.
Each month, five student-athletes are recognized for their academic improvement, dedication and
proven ability. In addition, one student-athlete is chosen through LSU's Student-Athlete Affairs
program for their volunteerism and commitment to the community.
Decembers student-athletes of the month are Quincy Downing [Track & Field], Davon
Godchaux[Football], Alex Lange [Baseball], Joana Vale Costa [Womens Tennis]
and Madison Sthamann[Swimming & Diving]. Harrison Kennedy [Mens Tennis] was
selected as the Shaquille ONeal Life Skills Program Student-Athlete of the Month.
Downing, Godchaux and Vale Costa are all sport administration majors while Sthamann is a
kinesiology major. Lange is majoring in finance and Kennedy is majoring in economics.
Kennedy, a junior from Suwanee, Ga., has earned two letters on the tennis team and competed in
every tournament and dual match for the Tigers last season. He recently read to elementary
students promoting literacy and took part in the Thanksgiving with the Tigers event where his
team adopted an underprivileged child for the holidays. Kennedy is currently on the executive
board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as the Vice President of External Operations.
A senior sprinter/hurdler from Cleveland, Ohio, Downing proved himself as a premier
competitor in the 400-meter hurdles in the NCAA for 2014. Downing won a national
championship as the second leg of LSUs 4x400-meter relay team that took the title at the NCAA
Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships.
Godchaux, a freshman defensive lineman from Plaquemine, La., developed quickly for the
Tigers in his freshman season and serves as a consistent starter on the defensive line. LSU fans
look forward to having a hometown favorite featured on their defensive line for the next few
seasons.
A freshman pitcher from Lees Summit, Mo., Lange reigns as the 2014 Missouri Gatorade Player
of the Year and a 2014 Perfect Game All-American. Lange enters the LSU program after
declining professional draft eligibility and hopes to make an impact early in his career. He is no
stranger to academic success as he maintained a 4.0 GPA in high school.

Vale Costa, a sophomore tennis player from Lisbon, Portugal, enjoyed immediate success in her
first season as a Lady Tiger in 2014. Her performance earned her 2014 All-SEC Second Team
and 2014 All-SEC Freshman Team honors. The Portuguese native also was the 2014 ITA
Southern Region Rookie of the Year and a member of the 2014 All-Louisiana Second Team.
A freshman diver from White City, Saskatchewan, Canada, Sthamann was a member of the 2014
Canadian Junior National Team. Sthamann placed third in the platform event at the 2014 Youth
International Diving Meet and looks forward to carrying the positive momentum into her first
year at LSU.
For putting forth extra effort in the classroom and community in addition to their rigorous
academic and competition schedules, these six student-athletes will have their pictures displayed
on the wall in the Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes.
The Cox Communications Academic Center for Student-Athletes is a 54,000 square foot facility
comprised of an academic affairs, student affairs and an information technology team, serving
more than 530 student-athletes. The purpose is to provide an all-inclusive, student-centered
support structure for all student-athletes from matriculation, through graduation and life beyond.
-30Contact: Dimitri Skoumpourdis
Student Assistant SID
LSU Sports Information