Jackson State University student Chioma Anosike is not your average student-athlete. While some make playing time priority over studies, Anosike is convinced that her main focus belongs with academics.
In the spring of 2009, the 22-year-old Nigerian born soccer phenom, turned down tryout offers from three professional soccer teams.
"I said 'You know what, it's not all about the money and fame. I have to get my education. If I don't get my education now, it's going to be hard for me to come back to school.'"
Anosike came to the Unites States four years ago to attend Chowan University in Murfreesboro, N.C. She later decided to transfer to Jackson State University after talking with soccer head coach Adeniji Olagbegi, who also is from Nigeria.
"Before I came to the U.S., I always talked to the soccer coach at Jackson State," Anosike said.
"Because he's a Nigerian, I felt I would be able to be myself and give him exactly want he wants as a player because of that cultural relationship."
Anosike became an even greater soccer player under Olagbegi, winning the 2008 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year award. But education remained her first priority.
Anosike's academic honors prove that. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Anosike was recognized as a National Dean's List Scholar, Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges, Alpha Chi National College Honor Society, Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society in Economics, Phi Beta Lambda National Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma Scholastic Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma-National College Athlete Honor Society, Alpha Chi National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, and she was the recipient of the 2008 International Week Scholarship Award from the Division of International Studies.
"It feels good," she says of the accolades. "Sometimes regular students don't understand what student-athletes go through. I start in the morning with training, then go to class all day, then go back to training, then find time to study. It can be difficult."
Anosike, an economics major, found the spring 2009 semester to be especially difficult.
"I just lost my dad this January," said Anosike. "And I couldn't go home which made it very hard for me to focus this semester. I thank God I still pulled through."
On May 8, Anosike graduated from Jackson State University with a 3.6 grade point average. But she will return in the fall to pursue her master's and play more soccer.
"I just want the SWAC to see a little bit of me at another position so that they can know that Jackson State really has good student-athletes."
