We hear too many examples of college athletes falling by the wayside because they didn’t put in the time in the classroom. We might as well take a few seconds to point out a great student-athlete as well.
The South Bend Tribune‘s Al Lesar has a great article about senior guard Chris Stewart and his acceptance into Notre Dame’s Law School. Stewart, who had a 3.5 undergraduate GPA and has been taking graduate level courses since last semester just found out that he was accepted into next year’s first-year class.
“I just got accepted,” Stewart told Lesar. “I went in to see the admissions rep to see how my application was going. I just happened to run into the secretary who had a package they were sending to my home. It was a spur of the moment. I just so happened to walk in and they said, ‘Welcome to Notre Dame Law School.’”
Stewart’s been a great ambassador for Notre Dame, spending time in Haiti studying and volunteering, even before the country was stricken with the tragic earthquake. Stewart’s also a great example of the type of student-athlete that thrives at Notre Dame, especially when given a developmental year along the offensive line. Stewart’s ability to redshirt his freshman season -- a year he desperately needed to transform his body -- allowed him to get ahead scholastically as well as develop athletically.
We’re used to stories about high-profile players like Matt Leinart and Tim Tebow coming back to school for a final season and taking an elective like ball room dancing. Here’s hoping that Stewart’s decision to tackle one of the most demanding academic slates you can find, while also playing his final season at Notre Dame, is as well-discussed.