SACE July Champions of the Month
7/22/2024 3:03:00 PM | Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, Champions of the Month
Student-Athletes from Football and Acrobatics & Tumbling selected as July Champions of the Month
WACO, Texas – Brayson McHenry (football), Jonah Burton (football), Josie Sutter (acrobatics & tumbling) and Layla Alexander (acrobatics & tumbling) have been selected as the Student-Athlete Center for Excellence (SACE) July 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.
McHenry, a redshirt sophomore quarterback from Texarkana, Texas, took Organic Chemistry II this summer and is "excelling in an extremely difficult major (pre-med)," said Brianne Beard, assistant director of academic services. "He puts in the work every single day, even when he doesn't want to. It's encouraging to me and a great example to his teammates."
After combining for more than 3,600 yards rushing and passing as a senior at Texas High, Brayson said his academic journey at Baylor "has been great thanks to the amazing academics staff. Being a student-athlete at Baylor is an amazing experience and one that I am very thankful for."
Named a team captain for the Great Race in the Champions Redefined retreat, Burton "led his team through difficult physical challenges while pointing them toward Christ," said Holly McKenzie, Director of Sports Ministry. "Jonah is developing into a Christ-like leader and represents the spiritual growth pillar of the department to his teammates and peers."
A redshirt junior from Simi Valley, Calif., majoring in management, Jonah played in 10 games with three starts in 2023, finishing with nine catches for 110 yards. "This opportunity at Baylor has been one of the biggest blessings God has gifted me," he said. "Being able to be challenged not only on the field, but in the classroom, is helping me grow into a better man."
Throughout the spring semester, Sutter struggled with questions like "What is God's purpose for my life?" and "Is the Bible credible and relevant to my life?" And she "felt the Lord desired for her to step out of her comfort zone," McKenzie said. "She signed up to go on the mission trip and successfully raised all of the funds needed to go."
In August, the sophomore health science studies major from Asheville, N.C., will join the sports ministry team in Costa Rica. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor has given me a community that supports my goals and pushes me to grow spiritually, academically and athletically," she said. "I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity to experience this loving, uplifting community."
A senior from Waco majoring in communications, Alexander was one of eight Baylor student-athletes who participated in the Black Student Athlete Summit in Los Angeles. "She was all-in from start to finish," said Christal Peterson, Assistant AD for Character Formation. If not for the BSA Summit, "she would not have made the connections she did . . . or want to pursue other opportunities to be involved within the Character Formation space."
Alexander, a three-time NCATA national champion with the acrobatics & tumbling team, said it's not easy being a student-athlete at Baylor University. "But being surrounded by such amazing people, staff, coaches and teammates keeps me motivated to continue to grow into the best version of myself on and off the mat," she said.
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.
McHenry, a redshirt sophomore quarterback from Texarkana, Texas, took Organic Chemistry II this summer and is "excelling in an extremely difficult major (pre-med)," said Brianne Beard, assistant director of academic services. "He puts in the work every single day, even when he doesn't want to. It's encouraging to me and a great example to his teammates."
After combining for more than 3,600 yards rushing and passing as a senior at Texas High, Brayson said his academic journey at Baylor "has been great thanks to the amazing academics staff. Being a student-athlete at Baylor is an amazing experience and one that I am very thankful for."
Named a team captain for the Great Race in the Champions Redefined retreat, Burton "led his team through difficult physical challenges while pointing them toward Christ," said Holly McKenzie, Director of Sports Ministry. "Jonah is developing into a Christ-like leader and represents the spiritual growth pillar of the department to his teammates and peers."
A redshirt junior from Simi Valley, Calif., majoring in management, Jonah played in 10 games with three starts in 2023, finishing with nine catches for 110 yards. "This opportunity at Baylor has been one of the biggest blessings God has gifted me," he said. "Being able to be challenged not only on the field, but in the classroom, is helping me grow into a better man."
Throughout the spring semester, Sutter struggled with questions like "What is God's purpose for my life?" and "Is the Bible credible and relevant to my life?" And she "felt the Lord desired for her to step out of her comfort zone," McKenzie said. "She signed up to go on the mission trip and successfully raised all of the funds needed to go."
In August, the sophomore health science studies major from Asheville, N.C., will join the sports ministry team in Costa Rica. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor has given me a community that supports my goals and pushes me to grow spiritually, academically and athletically," she said. "I couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity to experience this loving, uplifting community."
A senior from Waco majoring in communications, Alexander was one of eight Baylor student-athletes who participated in the Black Student Athlete Summit in Los Angeles. "She was all-in from start to finish," said Christal Peterson, Assistant AD for Character Formation. If not for the BSA Summit, "she would not have made the connections she did . . . or want to pursue other opportunities to be involved within the Character Formation space."
Alexander, a three-time NCATA national champion with the acrobatics & tumbling team, said it's not easy being a student-athlete at Baylor University. "But being surrounded by such amazing people, staff, coaches and teammates keeps me motivated to continue to grow into the best version of myself on and off the mat," she said.
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