Spirit of Service
Nicolette Taku, a graduating senior in the women's track and field program, is Tulane's recipient of the Conference USA Winter Spirit of Service Award, honoring her for leadership on her squad, in the classroom and in the New Orleans community.
Senior Nicolette Taku competed in the long jump and triple jump at the Conference USA Indoor Meet earlier this semester. (Photo from Tulane athletics)
From Baton Rouge, La., Taku is president of the Tulane Student-Athlete Advisory Council and volunteers with local youth. She earned the C-USA Academic Medal two years in a row and was named to the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll during each of the past three years.
For the spirit award, Taku represented Tulane on the list of 12 recipients, one from each C-USA institution.
"Nicolette is a very impressive young woman who consistently demonstrates a genuine and sincere desire to serve others and our community," said Tulane head track and field coach Eric Peterson. "She is a shining example of what we hope for from all of our student-athletes. She is well balanced in her daily academic and athletics workload and still finds time to involve herself with many service-oriented projects."
Taku also won one of the Torch Awards handed out by the Tulane Athletics Department this semester. She was nominated for "exemplifying or supporting the ideals of a student-athlete in balancing academics and athletics while contributing to the rebuilding and revival of the community through outreach and community service."
The senior completed her indoor track and field career by placing 13th at the C-USA Championships in the long jump and 11th in the triple jump.
