News Summary
Five student-athletes from Vanderbilt University’s lacrosse and bowling teams have been recognized as Academic All-District selections by the College Sports Communicators. To qualify, they must maintain a GPA above 3.5 and excel in their respective sports. Jaime Biskup, Brooke Baker, Alex Gladding, Nancy Halleron, and Victoria Varano were honored for their outstanding academic and athletic achievements. Their recognition highlights the commitment of Vanderbilt’s student-athletes to balance academics and sports while inspiring their peers.
NASHVILLE – Five student-athletes from Vanderbilt University’s lacrosse and bowling teams have been recognized as Academic All-District selections by the College Sports Communicators. The honorees named to the Academic All-District women’s at-large team for their academic and athletic achievements are Jaime Biskup, Brooke Baker, Alex Gladding, Nancy Halleron, and Victoria Varano.
To qualify for the Academic All-District honor, student-athletes must maintain a GPA above 3.5 and contribute significantly to their teams in competition. With their selection, Biskup, Baker, and Varano will move forward to the Academic All-America voting.
Individual Achievements
Jaime Biskup
Jaime Biskup, a team captain during the recent season, was sidelined due to an injury for the 2024 season. Despite the setback, she had an exceptional performance prior, being named a First-Team All-American Athletic Conference player. Biskup led her team with 46 goals and 20 assists, totaling 66 points. She graduated with a master’s in marketing last year and is currently pursuing a master’s in human development studies, projected to complete in 2025.
Brooke Baker
Brooke Baker has been recognized as an All-AAC First Team selection and is a second-time academic all-district honoree. This season, she showcased her skills by posting a total of 51 points through 43 goals and eight assists. Baker also made significant contributions defensively, recording 29 ground balls, 26 draw controls, and causing nine turnovers in 17 games. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and media with a focus on advertising and public relations. Baker received her master’s in human development studies at Vanderbilt in 2024 and graduated with a master’s in marketing in May.
Alex Gladding
Alex Gladding, who is being honored for the first time as an academic all-district recipient, was also named to the All-AAC Second Team. In the 2025 season, she scored her first career goal and assist. Gladding started all 18 games, contributing significantly to her team with 35 ground balls and 21 caused turnovers. She is majoring in human and organizational development and is recognized on the 2023-24 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll and All-AAC Academic Team.
Nancy Halleron
Nancy Halleron, another All-AAC Second Team selection, faced injury which sidelined her during the 2024 season. Nonetheless, she had an impressive outing previously, posting a total of 48 points with 44 goals and four assists. Halleron earned her degree in human organizational development in May and is a three-time recipient of the AAC All-Academic and SEC All-Academic Honor Roll.
Victoria Varano
Victoria Varano distinguished herself as a three-time All-America and two-time All-Conference USA honoree. A standout member of Vanderbilt’s 2023 national championship team, Varano has garnered accolades on three all-tournament teams and has participated in two 300 Baker games during her career. She is a rising senior majoring in human and organizational development and has been named NTCA All-Academic twice, along with being recognized on six conference academic honor rolls and being selected for the 2024 CUSA Bowling All-Academic Team.
Recognition and Impact
The recognition of these student-athletes not only highlights their academic successes but also acknowledges their dedication and contributions to their respective sports. By balancing rigorous academic schedules with the physical demands of their sports, they exemplify the spirit of student-athlete commitment and excellence at Vanderbilt University.
As these student-athletes continue to excel both academically and athletically, their achievements serve as an inspiration to their peers and highlight the importance of academic excellence in collegiate athletics.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Vanderbilt Commodores News
- The Tennessean
- Vanderbilt Bowling News
- Main Street Media TN
- Main Street Media TN
- Wikipedia: Student-athlete
- Google Search: Vanderbilt University Athletics
- Google Scholar: Academic All-District
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Sport
- Google News: Vanderbilt Lacrosse Bowling
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