By TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The life of a collegiate student-athlete is never easy. The commitments to practice, strength & conditioning, nutrition, games, academics, community service, and so much more seem to be never-ending and always full of challenges. Accepting those challenges head-on and using those experiences to promote both Golden Eagle Athletics and Tennessee Tech University to future students and the community requires a special person.
Tennessee Tech outfielder Elijah Brooks represents each and every one of those qualities every day, doing so with a smile and positive attitude that represents the purple and gold in a way that all student-athletes should strive to.
"Elijah is a hard-working and incredible example of what we want a Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle Student-Athlete to embody," Tech assistant athletic director for academics and student-athlete welfare Dr. Leveda Birdwell said. "Not only does he work hard in the classroom and on the field, but he is a great example in the community."
His willingness to embrace not just the baseball program, but the entire Athletics department as a whole speaks volumes to his character, and this was on full display during the month of September, highlighted by his time working Tennessee Tech baseball camps and most recently, the University's Preview Day.
"Elijah attended the University's Preview Day and while he was there representing one of Tech's student organizations, he took the time to speak with several prospective students that had questions and/or were interested in playing baseball at Tennessee Tech," Birdwell explained. "He was attentive and engaging with both the prospective students and their families and served as a true ambassador for Tennessee Tech."
In the classroom, he's led by example his whole career, earning Athletic Director's Honor Roll honors three times while working towards a degree in civil engineering.
"It is working with student-athletes like Elijah Brooks that not only makes me love my job, but gives me hope for the future," Birdwell expressed. "Elijah works hard in the classroom, is a true competitor on the baseball field, and has an entrepreneurial mindset that motivates me daily."
It is for these qualities and dedication that Brooks is the recipient of the 2022 September Unsung Leader Award.
The Unsung Leader Award is selected from student-athletes, who have been nominated by their coaching staff, for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities during a given month. The leadership can be shown on the field, in the weight room, at practice, in the classroom, in study hall, on campus, in the community, or for a student club or organization.
The award honors a varsity student-athlete who has made a positive impact on their team and the Tennessee Tech community as a whole, through his or her dedication to demonstrating leadership traits, such as:
- Keep learning, growing, and improving
- Follow through with excellence
- Accomplish more than expected
- Inspire and motivate others
Photo by Emily Armstrong
