Guillotte nominated by SSAC for NAIA Dr. LeRoy Walker Award

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Southern States Athletic Conference has selected its nominee for the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award, and that honor goes to Loyola New Orleans' Samantha Guillotte. The Mobile, Alabama, native is a dual-sport athlete at Loyola, with two seasons of beach volleyball and one season as a part of the indoor team under her belt. 
 

The Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award for student-athletes is one of the most prestigious awards in the NAIA and was created in association with the National Sports Foundation, a group of sports organizations that promote and recognize sportsmanship. The award honors outstanding student-athletes for their academics, athletics, leadership, and dedication to living the core values of Champions of Character.
 

Guillotte has distinguished herself in athletics, in the classroom, and off campus. In beach volleyball, the junior earned First Team All-Conference honors in The Sun Conference in both 2024 and 2025, in addition to earning 2024 Beach Volleyball Freshman of the Year.
 

Off the court, Guillotte is majoring in Mass Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a minor in Marketing. With her academic accomplishments and a 3.7 GPA, Guillotte was an Academic All-Conference award honoree in 2025, winning the award in both the Sun Conference and the Southern States Athletic Conference. She was also named a Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete in 2024.
 

She has also received the Mary Ann Reising Award, while being named to the Dean's List three times since arriving at Loyola. She serves as a First-In-The-Pack Council Member, a University Ambassador, and a dedicated member of Alpha Chi Omega, where she has held several leadership positions, including Vice President roles in Public Relations and Standards & Relations.
 

Guilotte's commitment to servant leadership and community engagement is evident through her roles as a head volleyball coach at NOLA Volleyball Club, and a communications intern for the city of Mobile. She's also applied her communication skills as an assistant sports editor, camerawoman, and commentator for Loyola's sports coverage, using media to amplify the stories of her peers and promote the Wolf Pack.
 

What they said

Robert Pitre, Head Indoor and Beach Volleyball Coach
"Her influence is deeply felt across campus, where she leads by example with authenticity and grace. Samantha is a true servant leader, eager to embrace responsibility and support those around her. Her integrity is beyond reproach, and she treats her teammates, peers, and competitors with the highest level of respect and sportsmanship."
 

David J. Badie, Jr., Adjunct Professor – Videography/Editing
"Not only did I find Sam to be an outstanding student, but she also took her lessons to heart – becoming quite proficient in implementing the techniques and strategies we studied, as well as finding her own unique voice as a student journalist. She has the qualities we look for at the Professional level in our industry, including time management and leadership skills, and the ability to balance the demands of the student-athlete schedule."
 

Preslie Boswell, indoor volleyball teammate
"Having Samantha on the team and being in my life in general has made me strive to be a better person, and being in her presence inspires me to be the best person I can be. Her character, how she holds herself, and her high levels of expectations for herself and others are nothing but inspiring."
 

Kiarelis Martínez, beach volleyball teammate
"I strongly believe Sam embodies the five core values of the award. You can see her integrity, whether she owns up to a mistake or quietly puts in the extra work without looking for recognition. She treats everyone, inside and outside the courts, respectfully and is always willing to help, even if she doesn't know the person."
 

Grace Rouse, President, Alpha Chi Omega – Zeta Psi Chapter
"One of the most powerful testaments to Sam's character is her leadership in Alpha Chi Omega sorority, where she currently serves as Vice President of Chapter Relations and Standards. Impressively, she stepped into this demanding role as a sophomore—navigating complex interpersonal challenges, mediating conflict, and upholding our chapter's standards with maturity, empathy, and fairness. Her presence has been instrumental in cultivating a culture of accountability and mutual respect."
 

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