As we conclude the 2024-2025 academic year, ADSA would like to highlight four SMU student-athletes who are excelling academically, athletically, and in the community.
Kirin Chacchia (Track & Field)
What a semester it’s been for Kirin, a sophomore from Frisco, Texas, majoring in Psychology. She had a strong Spring semester academically and athletically. This semester, she broke the SMU School record in the 400M hurdles, not once, but twice. For the second year in a row, she qualified for the NCAA first round in the 400M hurdles! She is also heavily involved in Life After Ball (LAB) programming. She truly embodies what it means to be a well-rounded student-athlete, excelling in every aspect of her collegiate journey.
Ava Anderson (Women’s Swimming & Diving)
Ava Anderson, a junior on the SMU Women’s Swim and Dive team, is making waves in her academic and professional journey. In May alone, Ava dedicated over 18 hours to volunteering at Stewpot and Hope Farm, demonstrating her commitment to serving the Dallas community. This summer, she is gaining invaluable experience in her field of Applied Physiology and Health Management through multiple internships. One at Palm Pediatrics, where she’ll shadow and learn about physical therapy firsthand, and the other at Santiso PT. Ava is also a part of the Turner Scholars Program.
Mitchell Holmes (Men’s Basketball)
Mitchell is a rising sophomore on the Men’s Basketball Team from Fort Worth, Texas. Alana Owens, Senior Academic Counselor, noted, “he is not only a hard worker who consistently gets assignments done ahead of schedule, but also a fantastic teammate. Mitchell excels at both encouraging others and fostering accountability among his peers, both on and off the court.” His dedication to his Applied Sports Management studies and his team make him a valuable asset to the university community. The ADSA is expecting big things from Mitchell in the future!
Ben Longeway (Men’s Swimming & Diving)
Meet Ben Longeway, a rising Sophomore on the SMU Men’s Swimming and Diving team. In the Spring, he accumulated more volunteer hours than any other male student-athlete based on athletic department tracking. He primarily volunteered at Feed My Starving Children in Dallas. He participated in additional service hours with his team. His commitment to giving back to others in the Dallas community is commendable. His Senior Academic Counselor in the ADSA, Katie Evans, states, “Ben demonstrates the qualities of a servant leader; he dedicates his spare time to help others and improve his community.” Ben’s career aspiration is to become a physical therapist (PT) after his time on the Hilltop.
These four student-athletes wrapped up their Spring 2025 semester on a high note.
