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TSU Student-Athlete Duo Named Spring 2023 Valedictorian And Salutatorian

Posted on Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Student-Athlete duo named spring 2023 valedictorian and salutatorian

The Texas Southern Department of Athletics made history as a pair of student-athletes were named the TSU Spring 2023 Baccalaureate Degree Class Valedictorian and Salutatorian in softball's Nora Rodriguez and men's golf Devansh Chadha. 
 
This year's race was tight as only 1/10th of point separated both student-athletes. This makes the first time ever both the TSU Valedictorian and Salutatorian are student-athletes and the second time in four years a student-athlete has captured the award as men's basketball former student-athlete Divonte Lumpkin was named Salutatorian in Spring 2019. 
 
Rodriguez, a member of the TSU softball team, will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the College of Science, Engineering and Technology. She holds a 3.98 GPA with aspirations of becoming a medical doctor. The Coppell, Texas native is a four-year letterwinner at pitcher, a Thomas F. Freeman Honors College member and recently won the TSU Athletics' Presidential Award which is awarded to the top female student-athlete based on performance in the classroom, field and community. 
 
"It means the world to me to be recognized for such an incredible honor," she said. "It truly takes a village and I am incredibly grateful for the people in my life who constantly cheer me on. I would like to thank my family for making sacrifices to provide me with incredible opportunities, my teammates for being a constant source of support, and my coaches for providing me tools that allow me to be successful." 
 
Chadha, a four-year letterwinner on the TSU men's golf team, is graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree In Finance With Summa Cum Laude Honors from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business, earning a 3.97 GPA. A native of Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Chadha aspires to enter the field of real estate/finance. He also helped the TSU men's golf team win its first SWAC Championship in 15 years in 2022 and is a member of the Thomas F. Freeman Honors College. 
 
"It has been an honor to be a student-athlete at TSU," he said. "My experience here wouldn't have been possible without the support of the athletic department, coaches and my teammates." 
 
TSU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Kevin Granger is elated about the accomplishments both student-athletes have accomplished. 
 
"I would like to thank the Texas Southern faculty and our Athletics Enhancement staff for their hard work in helping both student-athletes achieve this prestigious honor and helping them to make history," said Dr. Granger. "Devansh and Nora are the epitome of a TSU student-athlete as both performed at a high level both on the field and in the classroom as evident by the honors they've achieved in both areas. Both are on a path to become very successful in life as we are proud to have played a role in their lives." 
 
TSU Assistant Athletics Director / Academic Enhancement Kimberly Evans echoes Dr. Granger's sentiments. 
 
"It's exciting to see our student-athletes achieve such great academic success while juggling their very demanding practice and competition schedules," she said. "I'm very proud of their historic academic accomplishment." 
  
Both student-athletes are scheduled to graduate on Saturday, May 13 inside the H&PE Arena on the TSU campus. 

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Last updated: 05/10/2023