COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Six Texas A&M student-athletes were recently named Class Stars by the Texas A&M Class Council. The recipients were honored at the organization's annual reception and presented a personalized award for their merit.
Stephanie Aiple, Angela Lowak and Shelby Sullivan, members of the Aggie volleyball team, as well as Shea Groom (soccer), Courtney Walker (women's basketball) and Shamier Little (women's track and field), were recognized as Class Stars, a university-wide awards program that annually recognizes outstanding members of each class in five separate categories: academics, athletics, leadership, service and spirit. One student per class was selected in each category for a total of 20 awards across the University's freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes.
Groom (senior, Class of 2015), Walker (junior, Class of 2016), Little (sophomore, Class of 2017) and Aiple (freshman, Class of 2018) each received the Class Star award for athletics for their respective classes. Sullivan and Lowak, both members of the Class of 2016, were honored for academics and service, respectively.
The following are highlights of each of the Texas A&M student-athlete Class Star honorees:
Class of 2015 - Athletics
Shea Groom, Soccer (Liberty, Mo.)
A two-time All-American midfielder, was selected for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship this spring…Garnered Capital One Academic All-America distinction in 2014 and was selected Scholar All-America First-Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as a junior and senior…An NSCAA All-America First Team selection and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2014…Finished senior season with 39 points on 16 goals and seven assists…Was an NSCAA All-America Third Team performer and All-SEC first-teamer in 2013…Selected by FC Kansas City in the second round of the 2015 National Women's Soccer League Draft and recently signed a contract with the squad…Has also been involved with the U.S. Soccer Under-23 National Team in 2015.
Class of 2016 - Academics
Shelby Sullivan, Volleyball (Richardson, Texas)
The marketing major was named the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year for volleyball and was selected to the Capital One Academic All-District Volleyball Second Team…A starting middle blocker, garnered numerous other awards throughout the season, including AVCA Honorable Mention All-America and All-South Region Team accolades…Was named All-SEC for the second consecutive year…The team MVP led the Aggies in kills (2.84) and points (3.57) per set for the full season and finished second on the team in both hitting percentage (.374) and blocks (1.01) per set.
Class of 2016 - Athletics
Courtney Walker, Women's Basketball (Edmond, Okla.)
The guard earned All-American honors from both the Associated Press and Women's Basketball Coaches' Association in 2014-15…Also earned First Team All-SEC honors this season, becoming the fifth Texas A&M player selected first-team all-conference in back-to-back seasons…Helped the Aggies to a 23-10 record and their 10th straight NCAA Tournament appearance in 2015…Averaged 14.3 points per game in 2014-15 and ranks eighth at Texas A&M with 1,398 career points…Also received the Class Star award for athletics as a freshman.
Class of 2016 - Service
Angela Lowak, Volleyball (New Braunfels, Texas)
The outside hitter received the Texas A&M volleyball team's Aggie Excellence Award, recognizing her for her overall selfless service and leadership, as well as her dedication to athletics and academics…Was a winner of the Haier Achievement Award, honoring student-athletes for achievement beyond sports, and was one of eight finalists for the Haier Ultimate Achievement Award…Also was a semifinalist for the Coach Wooden Citizen Cup award…Named to the SEC Community Service Team for the second consecutive year, and also was named the National Consortium for Academics and Sports' November NCAS PlayMaker of the Month, recognizing those who exemplify the NCAS motto of “Changing Lives Through the Power of Sport” through academic achievement and community service.
Class of 2017 - Athletics
Shamier Little, Women's Track and Field (Chicago, Ill.)
Was the 2014 NCAA Champion in 400 hurdles with a school record time of 55.07 seconds, the fifth fastest performer on the World Junior all-time list and second fastest on U.S. Junior all-time list…Ran first leg of 4x400 relay that finished second at 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a school-record effort of 3:25.63, making A&M the fourth fastest school on the all-time collegiate list…Was a critical factor in the Aggies winning the team title at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Championships…Was the 2014 World Junior champion in the 400 hurdles with a time of 55.66…Set a meet record of 55.43 in winning the USATF Junior Championship…Was the world junior leader for 2014 in both the 400 and 400 hurdles…Also won the 2014 SEC Outdoor 400m (51.06) and 2015 SEC Indoor 400m (51.37) titles.
Class of 2018 - Athletics
Stephanie Aiple, Volleyball (Round Rock, Texas)
The most decorated freshman in Texas A&M volleyball history…The setter became the first Aggie freshman to earn AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors and is the second player in school history to be named AVCA Region Freshman of the Year…Also a member of the SEC All-Freshman team and was a three-time SEC Freshman of the Week…Became the first A&M player to be named the ESPNW national player of the week…The Texas A&M Co-Offensive Player of the Year averaged 10.76 assists per set for the full season and broke the A&M SEC record with 10.86 assists per set in conference matches only.