Billiken student-athletes excelled across the board

Track and field performer Justin Kwasa (Chicago, Ill. / Mount Carmel) and women's tennis player Hailee Elmore (Springfield, Ill. / Springfield) were selected as Saint Louis University's 2011 Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete of the Year recipients. The awards are based on academic achievement, athletic accomplishment and community service.

Kwasa is the school record holder in five different throws - the indoor shot put (47 feet, 5.25 inches) and weight throw (62-3.25), and the outdoor shot put (152-5), discus (185-4) and hammer throw (46-1.25). He is the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference champion in the indoor weight throw and will be one of the top competitors in the hammer throw at the 2011 A-10 Outdoor Championships this weekend. Away from the track, Kwasa volunteers during the summer at Park Manor Christian Church, where he teaches Bible lessons as well as prepares breakfast and lunch for the congregation.

Part of the mission of the church is to provide a safe and fun outlet for children who range from kindergarten through sixth grade. Kwasa, an economics major, has been a resident advisor in SLU's residence halls since his sophomore year.  Elmore is one of the most highly decorated performers in Billiken women's tennis history. She is a two-time Atlantic 10 Conference Performer of the Year and is the 2011 A-10 women's tennis Student-Athlete of the Year.

Elmore was a four-time All-Conference selection, including first-team recognition on three occasions, and a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree. She is SLU's career leader in both singles and doubles wins, and she became the first SLU women's tennis player to be nationally ranked (No. 118). Elmore helped SLU reach the A-10 championship final with a come-from-behind singles win that gave the Billikens a 4-3 victory over Temple in the semifinals.

She has twice been voted to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District team by CoSIDA. Elmore has graduated with a degree in communication sciences and disorders and is scheduled to earn her Master's degree in 2012. She has volunteered her time at Catch a Falling Star and taught people with disabilities. In addition, Elmore worked at Karen House, a Catholic worker shelter in north St. Louis for homeless women and children.