STUDENT SPOTLIGHT POWERED BY McDONALD’S

AUSTIN SMITH

Major: Civil Engineering

GPA: 3.51

Activities: SGA President, Tennis, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Eta Kapp Tau Engineering Fraternity, Inc., AAMU Civic Engagement Team, AAMU College Democrats, Intern for US Department of Transportation.

DERRIYA SANKEY

Currently pursuing a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at Alabama State University with a 4.0 G.P.A. Her personal character can be best described as respectful, reliable, humorous, reflective, strategic. Within her cohort, she demonstrates a fair and balanced perspective. She is solution-focused, and models genuineness and learning agility. Increasingly more confident, exhibiting a “can do” mentality.

MARCUS CUSHNIE

Major: Criminal Justice
Sport: Football – Defensive Line
Hometown: Broward County, FL

Accolades:

Dean’s List – 4 Years
President’s Silver Medallion
Athletic Director’s Honor Roll
SWAC All-Academic Team

Extracurriculars:

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society
TVa Investment Group

TEAGGAN ILELA

Spring 2021 (Senior): Played 12 games and started 11… Led the team in assists with seven which also led the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)… Finished tied for second in goals scored with five… Tied for the team lead with 17 points… Tied for second in the conference in total points… Earned first team all-conference honors… Helped lead Alabama State to their third conference championship in five years.

2019 (Junior): Played in one game, before sitting out the remainder of the season due to injury.

2018 (Sophomore): Played in 18 games, while starting in all but one … Scored four goals on the season while tallying a team-high five assists … Contributed both a goal and an assist in the 2-0 win against MVSU (9/28).

2017 (Freshman): Selected to the 2018 Preseason All-SWAC First Team … Played in 21 games and started in 20 as a freshman … Scored her first two career goals in the 4-1 victory over Howard on 10/6 … Recorded an assist and a goal in the win over Jackson State on 10/20 … Tallied her fourth goal and collected two assists in the 8-1 win over Southern on 10/22 … Recorded a goal in split decision against Texas Southern on 11/3 … Recorded nine assists for the 2017 season.

High School: Played at William C. Hinkley High School in Westminster, Colorado … A four-year member of the Honor Roll … As a senior earned National Honor Society recognition … A member of the student council … A 2013-14 EMAC Player of the Year … Also earned letters in basketball and track & field … Helped guide the Thunderbirds to the 2015-16 league championship in track & field … Statistically first in goals and ninth in assists in Colorado 5A Girls Soccer … Named the EMAC Conference Player of the Year (2015), EMAC Conference First Team (2015) and All-City in Aurora (2015) … Played club soccer for Real National Colorado … Chose Alabama State over Hawaii-Hilo, UNC Greensboro and Colorado State-Fort Collins.

Personal: Daughter of Tanya and Thierry Ilela … Has two brothers, Kai and Naierm … Cousin Marcus Wheeler, plays baseball at Kansas … Majoring in Biology.

GABRIELLE MALOY

Major: Masters in Forensic Biology
Hometown: Shorter, Alabama