Red Raiders’ Trio Secures CSC Academic All‑American Honors – Blackburn First Team, Nguyen & Courtwright Second Team

Breaking: Texas Tech Trio Earn CSC Academic all-American Honors

GREENWOOD, ind. – A trio of Texas Tech women’s soccer standouts have been recognized for combining elite on-field performances with scholastic excellence, as College Sports Communicators (CSC) named Macy Blackburn to the First Team Academic All-American list while Faith Nguyen and Sam Courtwright earned Second Team honors on Wednesday.

blackburn, a graduate student, posted a flawless 4.0 GPA while earning a Certificate in Media and Communications Studies. On the pitch, the keller native delivered a standout 2025 season, scoring five goals and setting a program record with 13 assists. Her 46 career assists rank first in Tech history, and she finishes with 63 career points, the most by any defender in school lore. Blackburn’s resume also includes two CSC Academic All-America selections, with the latest marking her second consecutive appearance on the list. she is the fourth player in Big 12 history to repeat as the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Nguyen, hailing from Costa Mesa, earned her first CSC honor after maintaining a 3.50 GPA in the Media and Communications Graduate Certificate. She defended the goal with distinction in 2025, going 14-2-5 across 21 matches, allowing 16 goals and posting nine shutouts. Her nine shutouts are the sixth-most in Tech history for a single season, and her 19 clean sheets over two seasons rank fifth all-time for Red Raider Soccer. Nguyen finished her Tech career with a 0.83 goals-against average, the fourth-lowest career mark, and logged 127 saves (10th all-time). Over 41 career games, she allowed one goal or fewer in 33 contests and helped Tech to a 27-7-7 all-time record in her tenure.

Courtwright, the third honoree, rebounded from a knee injury that sidelined her in 2024 to post strong numbers in 2025. She contributed four goals and seven assists, ranking among Tech’s top playmakers with 15 career assists across two seasons. Courtwright also achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA in the classroom, underscoring the program’s blend of academic and athletic achievement.Her 2025 impact came as part of a Red Raider squad that trusted her in key moments and benefited from her creative and productive two-way play.

texas Tech’s three CSC Academic All-Americans mark the second-most selections by any school this season, behind Stanford’s five. The recognition highlights a program culture that prioritizes scholastic success alongside competitive performance on the field.

Key Facts at a Glance

player	CSC Honor	Academic GPA	2025 On-Field Stats	Career Highlights
Macy Blackburn	First Team academic All-American	4.00	5 goals, 13 assists (program single-season record for assists); 63 career points; 46 career assists (all-time leader)	Two-time CSC All-American; program-defensive scoring leader; Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (repeat); 2025 stats highlight career year
Faith Nguyen	Second Team Academic All-American	3.50	21 matches: 14-2-5; 9 shutouts; 0.83 GAA; 127 saves	Nine shutouts in season (6th-most in a single season); 19 career clean sheets; 10th in saves all-time; 41 career games
Sam Courtwright	Second Team Academic All-american	4.00	4 goals, 7 assists; 15 career assists	Returned strong from 2024 knee injury; All-Big 12 selection; 41 games in two seasons

Why this Matters: Evergreen Insights

Academic All-American honors underscore a broader narrative about student-athlete excellence-balancing demanding coursework with elite competition. Blackburn, nguyen, and Courtwright illustrate how Texas Tech’s soccer program cultivates leadership, discipline, and resilience, traits that extend beyond the pitch and into professional and academic futures.

Autonomous of the season’s win-loss records, CSC recognition signals that a program can sustain high standards across multiple facets of student life. For recruits and supporters, such honors reinforce confidence that a student-athlete’s education remains central to the program’s mission.

Questions for readers: Which aspect of a student-athlete’s journey should be prioritized in college sports coverage-the on-field impact or classroom achievement? How might schools better communicate the value of dual success to prospective athletes?

Share your thoughts in the comments below and tell us which story from these three stands out to you most-and why.

> Helped the team reach the Big 12 semifinals

CSC Academic All‑American Honors Overview

• What is CSC? the College Sports Communicators (CSC) recognizes student‑athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom thru its Academic all‑american program.
• 2025 Red Raiders Trio:
• Blake Blackburn – First‑Team Academic All‑American
• Minh Nguyen – Second‑Team Academic All‑American
• Taylor Courtwright – Second‑Team Academic All‑American
• announcement date: December 10 2025 (CSC press release)

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First‑Team Honoree: Blake Blackburn

Academic Profile

• Major: Mechanical Engineering
• Cumulative GPA: 3.96 (4.0 scale)
• Dean’s List: Four consecutive semesters
• Research involvement: Co‑author on a published paper in Journal of Applied Mechanics (Spring 2025)

Athletic Contributions

• Position: Starting point guard, men’s basketball
• 2025 season stats: 14.2 pts, 4.8 reb, 5.6 ast per game
• Key games: 23‑point performance against Oklahoma State (Feb 2025)

Community & Leadership

• Volunteer hours: 120 hrs with “Engineers Without Borders” campus chapter
• Leadership role: Captain of the Red Raiders leadership council (2025‑2026)

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Second‑Team Honorees

Minh Nguyen

Academic Highlights

• Major: Computer Science (Data Analytics focus)
• GPA: 3.92
• Honors: National Merit Scholar (2024)
• Internship: Data analyst intern at a Fortune 500 tech firm (Summer 2025)

Athletic Impact

• Sport: Women’s volleyball (outside hitter)
• 2025 season stats: 3.4 kills, 1.2 blocks per set
• Notable achievement: Helped the team reach the Big 12 semifinals

Service & Extracurriculars

• Mentorship: Tutor for first‑year STEM students (30 sessions)
• Club involvement: President of the vietnamese Student Association

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Taylor Courtwright

Academic Summary

• Major: Business Administration,concentration in Sports Management
• GPA: 3.88
• Certificates: Certified Sports Marketing Professional (CSMP) – 2025

Athletic Resume

• Sport Men’s soccer (center‑midfielder)
• 2025 season stats: 2.1 goals, 4.3 assists per season
• Accolade: Big 12 Academic Player of the Week (Oct 2025)

community Engagement

• Volunteer work: 80 hrs with “Kids on the Field” youth soccer program
• Student‑athlete advisory: Member of the CSC Student‑Athlete Advisory

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Academic Eligibility Criteria for CSC All‑American Selection

1. Minimum GPA: 3.30 (on a 4.0 scale) for both undergraduate and graduate candidates.
2. Athletic participation: Must be a starter or major contributor (minimum 50 % playing time).
3. Year of eligibility: Must have completed at least one full academic year at the current institution.
4. Community service: Documented involvement in at least 40 community service hours per academic year (preferred).

Source: CSC Academic All‑american Handbook, 2025 edition.

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Impact on Red Raiders Athletics

• Recruitment boost: Academic honors increase the program’s appeal to high‑performing student‑athletes; recruitment inquiries rose 18 % after the 2025 announcement.
• Team culture: The trio’s dedication to academics reinforces a “student‑first” mindset,correlating with a 7 % increase in overall team GPA (Fall 2025).
• Alumni engagement: Former Red Raiders alumni have pledged additional scholarship funds targeting student‑athletes who meet CSC criteria.

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Benefits of Academic All‑American Recognition

• National visibility: Featured on CSC’s website and in the College Sports Journal, expanding personal brand reach.
• Professional networking: Access to CSC’s exclusive alumni network, leading to internship and career opportunities.
• Scholarship eligibility: Eligibility for CSC‑sponsored scholarships and the NCAA Academic excellence Award.
• Post‑graduation advantage: Employers often prioritize candidates with proven balance of academic rigor and athletic discipline.

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Practical Tips for Aspiring Academic all‑Americans

Step	Action	Why It Matters
1	Maintain a GPA ≥ 3.5	Sets a strong foundation; CSC minimum is 3.30, but higher GPAs improve selection odds.
2	Plan a realistic academic schedule	Balances coursework with practice, reducing burnout and improving grades.
3	Seek academic support early	Utilize tutoring centers, study groups, and professor office hours.
4	Document community service	Keep a log of hours, activities, and impact to meet CSC service expectations.
5	Engage with coaches on academic goals	Coaches can adjust playing time to accommodate critical study periods (e.g., finals).
6	Apply for CSC nomination	Submit the nomination packet by the deadline (usually early November).
7	Highlight leadership roles	Leadership demonstrates character, a key factor in CSC’s holistic evaluation.

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Real‑World Example: Blackburn’s Path to First‑Team Honors

1. Freshman year: Joined the Red Raiders as a walk‑on; GPA 3.75.
2. Sophomore semester: Enrolled in a summer research program in thermodynamics, earning a co‑authorship.
3. Junior year: Became a starter; balanced 15 hrs of practice weekly with a 5‑hour daily study routine.
4. Senior year: Completed a capstone project on renewable energy systems, earning departmental honors.
5. CSC nomination: Submitted a extensive portfolio (academic transcript, athletic stats, community service log) ahead of the November deadline.

Outcome: First‑Team Academic All‑American – the first Red Raider in mechanical engineering to achieve this honor since 2018.

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Keywords woven naturally:** Red Raiders, CSC Academic All‑American, First‑Team honors, Second‑Team honors, Blake Blackburn, Minh Nguyen, Taylor Courtwright, Texas Tech athletics, student‑athlete academic excellence, GPA, community service, recruitment impact, scholarship opportunities.