SACE November Champions of the Month
11/21/2019 10:00:00 AM | Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, Preparing Champions for Life, Champions of the Month
Student-Athletes from Equestrian, Volleyball, Men’s Track & Field and Football selected as November Champions of the Month.
Waco, Texas – Kammie Berns (equestrian), Marieke van der Mark (volleyball), Jayson Baldridge (men's track & field) and BJ Hanspard (football) have been selected as the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE) November Champions of the Month.
This award recognizes student-athletes who achieve their personal bests in the areas of academic achievement, athletic success, character formation and spiritual growth.
Each of these student-athletes was nominated by a SACE team member based upon their embodiment of the four pillars.
Berns, a senior from Grosse Point, Mich., majoring in health science studies, is a six-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll selection who is currently applying to medical schools with a target start date of August 2020. She is serving as interim committee chair for SAAC's community engagement committee, helping plan volunteer activities for student-athletes, and has been volunteering at Baylor Scott & White Hospital for over a year and a half.
"My time at Baylor has been monumental," said Kammie, who made mission trips last year to Puerto Rico and Guatemala. "I have learned so much and have met so many amazing people, as well as created a Baylor family. Being a part of Baylor and athletics will be something I will always be grateful for."
A third-year sophomore from The Netherlands, van der Mark has put together an incredible season while battling through injuries, recording 111 kills and 59 blocks for the No. 3-ranked volleyball team. "Marieke brings the energy and pumps everyone up on and off the court to make sure they have everything they need," said academic coach Christina Johnson.
Marieke, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies, has excelled in the classroom as well and is on pace to graduate a year early and complete a master's degree before she finishes her playing eligibility. "Volleyball is a great way of showing the talent God gave me," she said. "But, being able to be surrounded by such amazing people who care for my academics and my personal life is an even bigger blessing! And a huge part of my success."
An indoor All-American and Big 12 champion in the 4x400-meter relay, Baldridge also placed second in the 400-meter hurdles at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships during his sophomore season. The junior communications major from Houston, Texas, is a graduate of the Baylor Athletics Leadership Institute and is currently a member of the SAAC executive committee.
Jayson "embodies what it means to be Baylor Built," said Cori Pinkett, Assistant AD for Character Formation. A two-time state champion in the 300-meter hurdles at George Ranch High School, Baldridge said, "The resources I've been offered since being here at Baylor have been extremely helpful toward my development and preparation for the future."
Although he's only in his second year at Baylor, Hanspard "has made such a huge impact" by "constantly praying with his teammates on and off the field and being that light God has intended him to be," learning specialist Ashleigh DeBoue said. A psychology major from DeSoto, Texas, BJ recently shared his testimony at BU Unfiltered.
One of Baylor's program-record 30 football players named to the Academic All-Big 12 team, he has excelled academically and utilizes all of the resources to make himself an even better student. "Progression Over Regression is one thing that I live by," said Hanspard, who gives back to both the Waco and Dallas communities through Bears for Books, as a mentor to children and preaching the Word everywhere he goes. "Each day is a blessing to be alive – use that day and get better in any aspect in life and watch great things happen on your behalf."
This award recognizes student-athletes who achieve their personal bests in the areas of academic achievement, athletic success, character formation and spiritual growth.
Each of these student-athletes was nominated by a SACE team member based upon their embodiment of the four pillars.
Berns, a senior from Grosse Point, Mich., majoring in health science studies, is a six-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll selection who is currently applying to medical schools with a target start date of August 2020. She is serving as interim committee chair for SAAC's community engagement committee, helping plan volunteer activities for student-athletes, and has been volunteering at Baylor Scott & White Hospital for over a year and a half.
"My time at Baylor has been monumental," said Kammie, who made mission trips last year to Puerto Rico and Guatemala. "I have learned so much and have met so many amazing people, as well as created a Baylor family. Being a part of Baylor and athletics will be something I will always be grateful for."
A third-year sophomore from The Netherlands, van der Mark has put together an incredible season while battling through injuries, recording 111 kills and 59 blocks for the No. 3-ranked volleyball team. "Marieke brings the energy and pumps everyone up on and off the court to make sure they have everything they need," said academic coach Christina Johnson.
Marieke, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies, has excelled in the classroom as well and is on pace to graduate a year early and complete a master's degree before she finishes her playing eligibility. "Volleyball is a great way of showing the talent God gave me," she said. "But, being able to be surrounded by such amazing people who care for my academics and my personal life is an even bigger blessing! And a huge part of my success."
An indoor All-American and Big 12 champion in the 4x400-meter relay, Baldridge also placed second in the 400-meter hurdles at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships during his sophomore season. The junior communications major from Houston, Texas, is a graduate of the Baylor Athletics Leadership Institute and is currently a member of the SAAC executive committee.
Jayson "embodies what it means to be Baylor Built," said Cori Pinkett, Assistant AD for Character Formation. A two-time state champion in the 300-meter hurdles at George Ranch High School, Baldridge said, "The resources I've been offered since being here at Baylor have been extremely helpful toward my development and preparation for the future."
Although he's only in his second year at Baylor, Hanspard "has made such a huge impact" by "constantly praying with his teammates on and off the field and being that light God has intended him to be," learning specialist Ashleigh DeBoue said. A psychology major from DeSoto, Texas, BJ recently shared his testimony at BU Unfiltered.
One of Baylor's program-record 30 football players named to the Academic All-Big 12 team, he has excelled academically and utilizes all of the resources to make himself an even better student. "Progression Over Regression is one thing that I live by," said Hanspard, who gives back to both the Waco and Dallas communities through Bears for Books, as a mentor to children and preaching the Word everywhere he goes. "Each day is a blessing to be alive – use that day and get better in any aspect in life and watch great things happen on your behalf."
Baylor Basketball (M): 2025-2026 Season Trailer
Sunday, November 02
Baylor Football: Postgame Press Conference vs. UCF | November 1, 2025
Saturday, November 01
Baylor Football: Every Touchdown vs. UCF | November 1, 2025
Saturday, November 01
Baylor Football: Michael Trigg Highlights vs. UCF | November 1, 2025
Saturday, November 01
