SACE January Champions of the Month
2/14/2025 1:45:00 PM | Student-Athlete Center for Excellence, Champions of the Month
Student-Athletes from Men’s Basketball, Football, Women’s Basketball and Women’s Track & Field selected as January Champions of the Month
WACO, Texas – Josh Ojianwuna (men's basketball), Sidney Fugar (football), Aaronette Vonleh (women's basketball) and Alexis Brown (women's track & field) 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.
Ojianwuna, a redshirt junior communications major from Nigeria, "achieved his personal-best GPA in the fall and followed it up by exceeding in a winter mini-mester to get ahead in his degree," said Josh Young, Assistant AD for Academic Services. "He has had great energy all year, and we are grateful for his attitude towards success."
After making one start over his first two seasons at Baylor, Josh started 23-consecutive games this year and averaged career highs of 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 8 versus UCF. "I am very grateful for the academic staff that always goes the extra mile to support me," he said. "Their dedication and encouragement make it possible for me to succeed both in the classroom and on the court."
A senior communications major from Waldorf, Md., who transferred from South Carolina, Fugar made a huge difference in the offensive line, starting the final eight games at left tackle and helping the Bears rank in the top 20 nationally in total offense, scoring offense and team passing efficiency. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor means upholding the values of integrity, leadership and service while fostering a strong sense of faith and purpose," he said.
After earning Academic All-District honors in the fall from the College Sports Communicators, Sidney was selected by the coaching staff to participate in the Leadership Institute this spring, where "he will learn how to be a leader in life and on the field," said Assistant Learning Specialist Ally Barnhart.
Vonleh, a senior communications major from West Linn, Ore., spent her first three seasons in the Pac-12 with stops at Arizona and Colorado. Making a seamless transition, she has started every game this year, averaging 13.8 points and 5.0 rebounds and shooting a Big 12-best 60.2% from the field. "I'm grateful to have strong resources and support both on and off the court," she said. "I am blessed to play my sport at a high level and get a good education at the same time."
In the classroom, "Nettie" completed 18 hours in the fall with an impressive 3.44 GPA. "Despite managing a demanding academic schedule, Aaronette maintains a positive attitude and consistently works to support and inspire those around her," said Quentin Hendershot, Assistant Director of Academic Services.
Brown, a three-time All-American and 2024 Big 12 outdoor champion in the long jump, set the school and facility records at her second meet of the 2025 indoor season with a winning mark of 22 feet, 3 inches at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational in Manhattan, Kan. "And if that's not impressive enough, she has done this all while starting her second semester in Baylor's MBA program," said Ramone Cooper, Associate AD for Academic Services.
A Kennedale, Texas, native who transferred from Florida two years ago, Brown said being a SACE Champion of the Month "is so amazing and a reflection of all the hard work I do on and off the track. Us student-athletes work so hard, so to see that our staff sees us and honors us with this is awesome. Baylor has granted me so many opportunities, and I will forever be grateful to be a Bear."
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.
Ojianwuna, a redshirt junior communications major from Nigeria, "achieved his personal-best GPA in the fall and followed it up by exceeding in a winter mini-mester to get ahead in his degree," said Josh Young, Assistant AD for Academic Services. "He has had great energy all year, and we are grateful for his attitude towards success."
After making one start over his first two seasons at Baylor, Josh started 23-consecutive games this year and averaged career highs of 7.4 points and 6.4 rebounds before suffering a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 8 versus UCF. "I am very grateful for the academic staff that always goes the extra mile to support me," he said. "Their dedication and encouragement make it possible for me to succeed both in the classroom and on the court."
A senior communications major from Waldorf, Md., who transferred from South Carolina, Fugar made a huge difference in the offensive line, starting the final eight games at left tackle and helping the Bears rank in the top 20 nationally in total offense, scoring offense and team passing efficiency. "Being a student-athlete at Baylor means upholding the values of integrity, leadership and service while fostering a strong sense of faith and purpose," he said.
After earning Academic All-District honors in the fall from the College Sports Communicators, Sidney was selected by the coaching staff to participate in the Leadership Institute this spring, where "he will learn how to be a leader in life and on the field," said Assistant Learning Specialist Ally Barnhart.
Vonleh, a senior communications major from West Linn, Ore., spent her first three seasons in the Pac-12 with stops at Arizona and Colorado. Making a seamless transition, she has started every game this year, averaging 13.8 points and 5.0 rebounds and shooting a Big 12-best 60.2% from the field. "I'm grateful to have strong resources and support both on and off the court," she said. "I am blessed to play my sport at a high level and get a good education at the same time."
In the classroom, "Nettie" completed 18 hours in the fall with an impressive 3.44 GPA. "Despite managing a demanding academic schedule, Aaronette maintains a positive attitude and consistently works to support and inspire those around her," said Quentin Hendershot, Assistant Director of Academic Services.
Brown, a three-time All-American and 2024 Big 12 outdoor champion in the long jump, set the school and facility records at her second meet of the 2025 indoor season with a winning mark of 22 feet, 3 inches at the DeLoss Dodds Invitational in Manhattan, Kan. "And if that's not impressive enough, she has done this all while starting her second semester in Baylor's MBA program," said Ramone Cooper, Associate AD for Academic Services.
A Kennedale, Texas, native who transferred from Florida two years ago, Brown said being a SACE Champion of the Month "is so amazing and a reflection of all the hard work I do on and off the track. Us student-athletes work so hard, so to see that our staff sees us and honors us with this is awesome. Baylor has granted me so many opportunities, and I will forever be grateful to be a Bear."
Baylor Basketball (W): Big 12 Media Day Press Conference | October 21, 2025
Tuesday, October 21
Baylor Football: Dallas Baker Media Availability, Oct 21, 2025
Tuesday, October 21
Baylor Football: Kole Wilson and Keaton Thomas Media Availability, Oct 21, 2025
Tuesday, October 21
Baylor Basketball (M): My Journey with Michael Rataj
Monday, October 20
