SACE January Champions of the Month
1/16/2024 2:22:00 PM | Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, Champions of the Month
Student-athletes from women's basketball, volleyball, men's basketball and football selected as Champions of the Month for January
WACO, Texas – Madison Bartley (women's basketball), Elise McGhee (volleyball), Ja'Kobe Walter (men's basketball) and Tre Emory (football) have been selected as the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE) January 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 each of the four pillars.
One of five players on the women's basketball team that have scored over 1,000 career points, Bartley is a junior from Kettering, Ohio, majoring in communication. "She shows up in the classroom and academic sessions full force, ready to attack the day," said Molly Pannell, assistant director of learning support. "She is a joy to work with, and I'm glad she came to Baylor."
Madison transferred from Belmont University, where she was a two-time first-team All-MVC selection, averaging 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds last year. "To be a student-athlete at Baylor is an opportunity that I am grateful for every day," she said. "Everyone around you is always supporting you and helping you to make sure that you succeed in the classroom and on the court. I am so grateful to call Baylor my home."
McGhee, a senior outside hitter from San Antonio, Texas, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in a breakout 2023 season. "The future is bright for Elise," said Josh Young, Assistant AD for Academic Services. "She is an elite goal-setter and always rises to an academic challenge. She carried a difficult course load in Health Science Services and simply got it done at a very high level."
Hitting .248 with 3.78 kills per set and 33 service aces, Elise helped lead the volleyball team to its eighth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a first-round upset of James Madison. "I know God put me at Baylor for a reason, and I couldn't imagine a better and more loving place," she said. "My journey with academics has been difficult at times, but Baylor provides so many resources to help lighten the load of being a student-athlete."
A McDonald's All-American last year at Link Academy in Branson, Mo., Walter has certainly lived up to the hype, averaging 15.3 points and 4.4 rebounds for the ninth-ranked Bears. Recently named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top-25, he opened the season with a 28-point outing against Auburn to become the first Baylor freshman in program history to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
"You can always count on Ja'Kobe to handle his business in tutoring as well as in the classroom," Young said of Walter, who finished the fall with above a 3.0 GPA. "Just having the opportunity to compete at a high level all while still getting a great education . . . it's just a great environment, and I'm truly blessed to be here," he said. "My teachers have been helpful and have worked with me and my hoops schedule to make academics go smoothly."
A sophomore from Mount Pleasant, Texas, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies, Emory "embodies what it means to be a student-athlete," said Lauren Kirby, Assistant AD for Learning Support. "He puts in work outside of academic sessions and the classroom to be successful. He always has a smile on his face and brings positive energy wherever he goes."
As a redshirt freshman, he matched his career high with two tackles and had half a sack in the Bears' win over Cincinnati. "Being a champion of the month means a lot to me because of the hard work I put in in the classroom," Tre said. "I feel blessed – not many people are able to go to college – so I want to thank God for putting me in this position. My journey has been amazing. There have been ups and downs, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."
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 each of the four pillars.
One of five players on the women's basketball team that have scored over 1,000 career points, Bartley is a junior from Kettering, Ohio, majoring in communication. "She shows up in the classroom and academic sessions full force, ready to attack the day," said Molly Pannell, assistant director of learning support. "She is a joy to work with, and I'm glad she came to Baylor."
Madison transferred from Belmont University, where she was a two-time first-team All-MVC selection, averaging 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds last year. "To be a student-athlete at Baylor is an opportunity that I am grateful for every day," she said. "Everyone around you is always supporting you and helping you to make sure that you succeed in the classroom and on the court. I am so grateful to call Baylor my home."
McGhee, a senior outside hitter from San Antonio, Texas, earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in a breakout 2023 season. "The future is bright for Elise," said Josh Young, Assistant AD for Academic Services. "She is an elite goal-setter and always rises to an academic challenge. She carried a difficult course load in Health Science Services and simply got it done at a very high level."
Hitting .248 with 3.78 kills per set and 33 service aces, Elise helped lead the volleyball team to its eighth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a first-round upset of James Madison. "I know God put me at Baylor for a reason, and I couldn't imagine a better and more loving place," she said. "My journey with academics has been difficult at times, but Baylor provides so many resources to help lighten the load of being a student-athlete."
A McDonald's All-American last year at Link Academy in Branson, Mo., Walter has certainly lived up to the hype, averaging 15.3 points and 4.4 rebounds for the ninth-ranked Bears. Recently named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top-25, he opened the season with a 28-point outing against Auburn to become the first Baylor freshman in program history to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
"You can always count on Ja'Kobe to handle his business in tutoring as well as in the classroom," Young said of Walter, who finished the fall with above a 3.0 GPA. "Just having the opportunity to compete at a high level all while still getting a great education . . . it's just a great environment, and I'm truly blessed to be here," he said. "My teachers have been helpful and have worked with me and my hoops schedule to make academics go smoothly."
A sophomore from Mount Pleasant, Texas, majoring in health, kinesiology and leisure studies, Emory "embodies what it means to be a student-athlete," said Lauren Kirby, Assistant AD for Learning Support. "He puts in work outside of academic sessions and the classroom to be successful. He always has a smile on his face and brings positive energy wherever he goes."
As a redshirt freshman, he matched his career high with two tackles and had half a sack in the Bears' win over Cincinnati. "Being a champion of the month means a lot to me because of the hard work I put in in the classroom," Tre said. "I feel blessed – not many people are able to go to college – so I want to thank God for putting me in this position. My journey has been amazing. There have been ups and downs, but I wouldn't trade it for anything."
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