College calls upon student-athletes to raise their game in the classroom, as well as on the diamond or the court.

Louisburg College recently recognized former King’s Fork High School basketball standout Rod Parrett and Nansemond River High School baseball standout Tyler Jordan for academic success in their fall freshman semester.

Each held a 3.2 grade point average, earning them bronze medals during the school’s Hurricane Scholar Athletes Awards Ceremony in which more than 100 athletes were recognized.

Parrett, who is currently playing for the Louisburg basketball team, cited the impact the honor had on him.

“It means a lot,” he said. “That’s the main reason I’m here is my academics.”

Louisburg head basketball coach Mark Vanderslice is seeing exactly what he wants from Parrett.

“Rod embodies what a student-athlete is all about,” Vanderslice stated in an email. “He earned a solid GPA in his first semester here at Louisburg. He is a combination of class, character and talent that any coach would be proud to have as a part of their program. We expect big things from Rod, not only this season, but in the future as well.”

Comparing his college coursework to that of high school, Parrett would not say college was easy, but revealed his self-starting mentality when it comes to the work.

“I don’t have anybody here to tell me to do that,” he said. “I guess that makes me do my work even more.”

He reported news of the medal to King’s Fork High School coach Josh Worrell.

“Rod doesn’t have to please me anymore, but he wants to let me know how well he’s doing in the classroom,” Worrell said.

Worrell is able to use Parrett as an example for his current players to whom he teaches, “It’s not about basketball all the time.”

Parrett expressed great respect for some of the younger King’s Fork players who show potential, and he said, “I just want them to be able to look up to me while I’m here and see what I’m doing,” so they can have a model to follow for success.

“I think he’s fitting in well there and playing well and doing what he’s supposed to do,” Worrell said.

As Tyler Jordan eagerly awaits the start of baseball season on Feb. 1, he was pleased to already have tangible evidence of his success academically.

“It’s very good to be able to see the actual award,” he said, adding that it serves as motivation to press on similarly in the classroom.

Compared to high school coursework, he described college as “a little bit more challenging. It forces you to stay on top of it and be more organized.”

Jordan said having a plan is what has helped him meet the challenge as he set goals before he got to Louisburg and knew what he wanted to do with his college career.

“Tyler Jordan is exactly the type of player we strive to recruit at Louisburg,” Hurricanes head baseball coach Keith Shumate stated in an email. “He cares. He gives 100 percent at all times both off the field and on. I am very happy to see Tyler off to a great start in his academic career.”

Nansemond River head coach Mark Stuffel was excited to hear of Jordan’s accomplishment because, like Worrell, the importance of academics is something he stresses with his players.

“Tyler’s always been a pretty good student, he’s always worked hard,” Stuffel said. Therefore, upon hearing of Jordan’s receiving the medal, he said, “It doesn’t surprise me.”