RNR Student Recognized in 2023 Tiger Twelve and as Scholar Athlete

In 1995, students, staff, and faculty came together to craft a statement of position regarding our basic principles as an academic community.   To that end, each spring since 2003, LSU recognizes 12 outstanding seniors who contribute positively to the life of the campus, surrounding community, and/or society. These 12 individuals are then recognized as the Tiger Twelve.

LSU proudly announces the Tiger Twelve Senior Recognition Class of 2023. The 12 Seniors represent six LSU Colleges and Schools. Eight are members of the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College.

This year, Jackson Martingayle (left), an RNR student majoring in Natural Resource Ecology and Management (with a minor in Spanish), has been in this elite class of students.  In addition to being in the Honor's College, Jackson also chose to prepare an Honor's Thesis.  His Honor's Thesis was titled "The Interaction of Salt Stress and Flooding Stress with Nutrient Availability in the Growth of Avicennia germinans (L.) L"; (Avicennia germinans is black mangrove ).  

His contributions to LSU also include being a member of the LSU Track Team for all four years as a distance runner. In this capacity, Jackson has also been awarded the most pretigious award in the SEC for the 2022-23 season, the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year! 

This is a dream come true for me.” Martingayle said. “It’s amazing to be recognized like this for all of my hard work over the last few years. As someone who arrived as a preferred walk-on, receiving the same award as some of the phenomenal former student-athletes to walk through LSU like Lisa Gunnarsson, Skylar Mars, Mikael Olander and many more is a huge honor.”

“I would like to thank my parents, Lizzie and Kevin Martingayle, for supporting me throughout these last four years, my coaches, Houston Franks and Dennis Shaver, for giving me the opportunity to run at LSU, and my professors at the School of Renewable Natural Resources, the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College, and LSU World Languages for stimulating my love of learning and accommodating my excessively busy schedule. I would also like to thank the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation and the LSU Foundation for giving me the opportunity to experience and get involved with the myriad opportunities available at LSU without the financial stress.”

Martingayle was chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from SEC universities and will receive a $20,000 post-graduate scholarship. Georgia’s Callie Dickinson (swimming & dive) was named the women’s H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

“This is the most honorable award that a student-athlete in the SEC can receive,” LSU Track and Field Head Coach Dennis Shaver said. “Our goal is to provide our student-athletes with the resources to achieve their full potential in the classroom and in competition. We are so proud of what Jackson has accomplished during his time at LSU and we know he has a very bright future ahead of him.”

Congratulations, Jackson!

 

The School of Renewable Natural Resources has has two previous graduates recognized in their respective senior classes as members of the Tiger Twelve.  In 2022, Alexia Maeänne LaGrone (photo right, who majored in Natural Resource Ecology and Management with a minor in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences) was honored.

Madelyn Smith was selected and honored in 2019.

Great things are happening in the School of Renewable Natural Resources!