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Texas A&M University-Commerce football player Alex Shillow (10) was one of two athletes to be named Lone Star Conference (LSC) Scholar-Athletes, alongside Sophie-Charlott Hempel from the women's golf team. Submitted Photo
Texas A&M University-Commerce student-athletes Alex Shillow and Sophie-Charlott Hempel have been distinguished as Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athletes last Thursday afternoon by the conference office.
The pair from A&M-Commerce is among 29 student-athletes from around the conference to receive this honor.
Hempel (Pirmasens, Germany) received her master's in business administration from A&M-Commerce. She was selected to First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America on Wednesday and also named the Lone Star Conference Women's Golf Academic Athlete of the Year earlier this season. She was a twotime all-conference honoree and guided the Lions to three NCAA Tournament appearances, the only three in school history.
She was also part of both NCAA National Championships run in program history. This past season, she was selected as the LSC Women's Golfer of the Week on March 24.
Shillow (Pflugerville), a defensive back on the football team, received his undergraduate degree in sport & recreation management and obtained his master's in business administration at A&M-Commerce as well.
He was a three-time Co-SIDA Academic All-America selection, the only student-athlete in school history to achieve that feat. He is the also the school's first honoree on the American Football Coaches Association/All State Good Works Team. He was a three-time all-conference honoree as well.
Along with his first team all-LSC selection, Shillow was also selected as the LSC Defensive Player of the Week on November 1. He totaled 49 tackles, five pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a blocked punt in his final season in Commerce. In his career, he made 208 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions, 23 passes defended, a forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, and a blocked kick. He had a 100- yard interception return for a touchdown against UT Permian Basin this season.
Each academic year, the LSC presents a Scholar-Athlete Award to one male and one female student-athlete at member institutions. These student-athletes are selected as representatives of the outstanding accomplishments in athletics, scholarship and leadership that are displayed on each LSC campus during the year.