May 10, 2007
Texas A&M senior western rider Jessica Lucia (Franklin) is a finalist for the Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award.
The award is considered the highest honor a senior student can receive at Texas A&M. Only two students per college at the university are nominated. Lucia was nominated by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Jessica was a co-captain of the A&M equestrian team for both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. In the spring of 2004, she became the first freshman in team history to be elected co-captain by her teammates. She is also a four-time Texas A&M/Verizon Athletics Scholar Award recipient.
As a rider, Lucia scored 51 points in the novice and advanced horsemanship divisions during the team?â„¢s final three years in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). She qualified for both the regional and zone championships as a junior and represented the team in the advanced horsemanship division at the 2006 IHSA National Championships.
The animal science major has been an extremely active member of Texas A&M life outside of both the arena and the classroom. She is a member of the Horseman?â„¢s Association, Phi Eta Sigma, the wool judging team, the horse judging team (which captured a world championship during her tenure), Alpha Zeta, Saddle & Sirloin, the Honors Program and is the animal science representative on the Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council.
Lucia plans on attending graduate school at A&M in the fall. She will begin work towards a degree in equine nutrition/exercise physiology.
To be eligible for the Brown Foundation-Earl Rudder Memorial Outstanding Student Award, a student must demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, leadership, be a member of an honor or professional society and have participated in extracurricular activities, including community service, and do so with humility and dedication to Texas A&M and its principles.
The winner of the Rudder Award will be announced during graduation ceremonies.