ODESSA, Texas (August 6, 2024) – The Lone Star Conference recognized two UT Permian Basin sports information students as winners of the 2023-24 Sports Information Student Academic Award.

Each academic year, the LSC recognizes sports information students who devote countless hours to assist with the operation of the athletics department while finding time to excel in the classroom. To be eligible for conference academic honors, sports information students must carry at least a 3.30 grade-point average with a minimum of 24 semester hours. The qualifications mirror those required of student-athletes to gain LSC All-Academic recognition.

The two students recognized from UTPB were:

• Vincent Bao; Sr.; Marketing, Oakdale, Minnesota; 3.85 GPA – Duties: Took photos of all sports, shot headshots & media day photos for the department and sports teams, shot fundraising events for the department, lead photographer, also traveled with football and soccer. Shot video for recap videos / hype videos. Created graphics for women's soccer social media account.
• Arath Brito; Sr.; Communication; Odessa, Texas; 3.53 GPA – Duties: Took photos of all sports, helped Athletic Communications Department with graphics, created schedule posters for basketball, volleyball, soccer and softball, helped organize and categorize photos, helped with shooting head shots. Shot video for recap videos, social media and local media. Also helped run football and men's basketball social media accounts.

"It was a pleasure working with Arath and Vincent during the 2023-24 season," spoke UTPB's Athletic Communication Specialist Brandon Warr. "They helped us out tremendously throughout the year and without their help we wouldn't have been able to accomplish the things we did on social media. We will truly miss having Vincent help us out as much as he did this season and he will be impossible to replace. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors and know he will achieve great things in anything he chooses to pursue."

In all, 19 sports information students representing eight LSC member institutions were recognized.