The University of Mississippi Athletics
Kaira Simmons Named Ole Miss 2019-20 Outstanding Graduate Student for Legal Studies
4/16/2020 | Track and Field
Simmons Earned Second-Team All-American Status Outdoors in 2019
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss track & field senior Kaira Simmons has been named the University of Mississippi's Outstanding Graduate Student in the Department of Legal Studies for the 2019-20 academic year.
"I am extremely happy and proud of Kaira," said Ole Miss track & field and cross country head coach Connie Price-Smith. "She has been such an important part of our program as a leader and an athlete competing for us. Words cannot express how grateful I am that she was a Rebel."
Simmons, who completed her bachelor's in criminal justice in just two years, is on track to complete her master's in criminal justice this spring with a 3.94 GPA. Simmons ultimately wants to work in national intelligence and security, and has received hands-on law enforcement experience from an internship with the University Police Department in 2018.
Academically, Simmons has excelled, earning national awards like USTFCCCA All-Academic and Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar distinction twice each, while also being named to the AD's Honor Roll seven times, the Chancellor's Honor Roll four times, the SEC Honor Roll three times and the Dean's Honor Roll once. Simmons also serves as an executive board member on the Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
In addition to her success in the classroom, Simmons stands as one of the best long jumpers in Ole Miss history. Her career-best leap indoors of 6.27m (20-07.00) stands third all-time and was the best by a Rebel since Olympian Brittney Reese set the school record 6.87m (22-06.50) in 2008. Her junior season in 2019 was a special one, as she joined the historic Rebel women's 4x100-meter relay that broke the school record several times – including the current record 43.45 at the NCAA East Regional that punched a ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the national meet, Ole Miss finished 12th overall, earning Simmons and her teammates Second-Team All-American status.
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
"I am extremely happy and proud of Kaira," said Ole Miss track & field and cross country head coach Connie Price-Smith. "She has been such an important part of our program as a leader and an athlete competing for us. Words cannot express how grateful I am that she was a Rebel."
Simmons, who completed her bachelor's in criminal justice in just two years, is on track to complete her master's in criminal justice this spring with a 3.94 GPA. Simmons ultimately wants to work in national intelligence and security, and has received hands-on law enforcement experience from an internship with the University Police Department in 2018.
Academically, Simmons has excelled, earning national awards like USTFCCCA All-Academic and Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar distinction twice each, while also being named to the AD's Honor Roll seven times, the Chancellor's Honor Roll four times, the SEC Honor Roll three times and the Dean's Honor Roll once. Simmons also serves as an executive board member on the Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
In addition to her success in the classroom, Simmons stands as one of the best long jumpers in Ole Miss history. Her career-best leap indoors of 6.27m (20-07.00) stands third all-time and was the best by a Rebel since Olympian Brittney Reese set the school record 6.87m (22-06.50) in 2008. Her junior season in 2019 was a special one, as she joined the historic Rebel women's 4x100-meter relay that broke the school record several times – including the current record 43.45 at the NCAA East Regional that punched a ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the national meet, Ole Miss finished 12th overall, earning Simmons and her teammates Second-Team All-American status.
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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