Texas Southern's Rivera Named SWAC Woman of the Year
SWAC.org
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference named Texas Southern University golfer, Kassandra Rivera, as its 2015 SWAC Woman of the Year.
Rivera completed her senior campaign by helping lead the Tigers golf team to a second-place finish at the SWAC Championships. This past April, Rivera was also named the 2014-15 TSU Women's Presidential Award Winner - awarded to the top female student-athlete within the athletics program.
The recent Suma Cum Laude, December graduate from Donna, Texas, majored in biology with a minor in chemistry. During her time at Texas Southern, Rivera served a year as TSU’s Student-Athlete Adivisory Committee representative. She also volunteered with the Women’s Golf Clinic at the Cypresswood Golf Course, the First Tee Golf Program, the Houston Rockets 5K and the Houston Independent School District – tutoring children for STAR testing.
"Kassandra has consistently displayed excellence inside the classroom and on the golf course," said TSU Senior Woman Administrator Dr. Dwalah Fisher. "Her significant contributions extend well beyond the realm of academics and athletics as she has also been instrumental in giving back to the local community through the various volunteer endeavors she has participated in."
Rivera was a four-time President List recipient and Honors College Student. Additional accolades include four, first-place wins and eight top 10 finishes, being named to the All-SWAC First Team for three season, claiming three Most Valuable Player awards and setting a SWAC and Texas Southern low-score record of 70-65 - 9 under par in a 36 holes competition.
The SWAC Woman of the Year is selected by league committee members using numeric scoring defined by guidelines and specific criteria during the candidate review. The SWAC Woman of the Year will then represent the conference as a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year selection process.
The SWAC Woman of the Year selection includes a review of the student athletes' service and leadership, academic achievement, athletics excellence and personal statement. The candidates nominated must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA and participate in one of the member institutions sponsored sports. The nominee must also submit a 200-word personal statement describing her experience in community service, as a scholar, an athlete, and a leader on her campus. They must also emphasize how the engagements have influenced their life and shaped their professional growth.
The SWAC Woman of the Year award began in 2011 with co-winners, Prairie View A&M's Peni Sanjoto (golf), Kristina Sadler (bowling) and Kameron Boggan (volleyball) receiving the honor. This is the second consecutive year Texas Southern student-athletes have won the honor.