Sheretta Jones and Jonathan Scott are what Texas student-athletes are all about.

They exemplify the term "student-athlete."

Jones and Scott have excelled in academics and athletics during their matriculation at UT and they leave campus following the 2005-06 school term with degrees in hand.

They are not alone, you understand, but they are among the best.

They are role models and examples for their teammates who remain and, perhaps even more importantly, for those who aspire to attend The University of Texas and compete in athletics.

There are no short cuts to success in athletics and academics.

	Sheretta Jones

Jones, the owner of a 3.12 grade point average who earned a degree in accounting in four years, is a Big 12 Conference student-athlete honoree, as well as an Academic All-Big 12 First Team member. She is the recipient of the 2005 IAW Memorial Scholarship and the Ann and Steve Ballantyne Endowed Scholarship (2002-03).

The Houston Forest Brook High School alum, where she was class valedictorian, also is a track and field academic MVP and a member of the CoSIDA Academic All-District VI Second Team.

"Sheretta has a commitment to excellence and a desire to succeed at the highest level," Dr. Randa Ryan, senior associate athletics director for student services, says of the outstanding middle distance performer on the women's track and field team.

That same kind of distinction is found in Jones' track and field resume where she holds the UT record for the outdoor 4x400m relay (3:23.75) and has the fifth-best ever outdoor 4x800m time in UT history at 8:33.49.

Jones was a part of the all-time UT indoor distance medley relay (11:24.97), as well as the second-fastest indoor 4x400m in school annals at 3:28.69. She is fourth-best all-time in UT history in the indoor 600 yards (1:20.18) and seventh-best ever in indoor 800m at 2:09.41.

Jones is two-time All-Big 12 outdoors and four-time All-Big 12 indoors. She is a Big 12 Champion outdoors and indoors, an All-American outdoors and indoors and a NCAA champion outdoors and indoors.

"When I think of Sheretta, one thing I think of is poise," Ryan continued. "She has more poise than most adults I know. It is a quality that shines through in everything she does. Her poise and confidence give her a presence that is very special. I love that about her.

"I also think of pride. Sheretta takes great pride in all of her endeavors. For example, when she is asked to speak to a group, she will really think about her role as a representative of the women's track and field team and she takes the responsibility of that role very seriously."

To Brian Davis, the assistant athletics director for academic affairs, Jonathan Scott is one of the "bell cows."

Davis says that with great affection.

"Jonathan, Michael Huff, David Thomas," he begins, "they all were the bell cows of this year's football team. They are the leaders. They have an air about them. It is not arrogance, but a confidence. They are the ones who are always going to be accountable -- on the field and in class. The bell cows are the ones who helped us be successful."

Jonathan Scott

Scott, a standout on the 2005 National Championship football team, earned his bachelor's degree in radio, TV and film.

"For all of the accolades, Jonathan and the others got for football this year," Davis said, "they deserved as much or more for what they did in the classroom."

Scott, who on the last day of April was a fifth-round choice of the Detroit Lions in the 2006 NFL Draft, arrived from Dallas Carter High School in 2001 (his redshirt season) with sterling credentials for his football and his academics.

"I probably didn't spend as much time with Jonathan because he always has been a strong student," said Davis, who has been taking care of academic matters for Coach Mack Brown's football teams for the past 17 years.

"In my position, that's kind of how it works out," Davis said of the less time with Scott, who never had any problems in school. "Jonathan first thought about being a business major, but his interest was more towards radio, TV and film, which at UT is not an easy major. He even did some music production."

The 6-foot-7, 315-pound Scott was the starting left tackle the balance of his career -- a bell cow in the offensive front.

And for all of the magazines that lauded him for his work on the field, Scott took pride in a line in the football media guide: UT Athletics Director's Academic Honor Roll. Scott was a staple on that list.

"From his freshman year," Davis said of Scott, "he always had an idea of what he wanted to do and where he was going. When we would meet to talk about his class schedule, Jonathan always came in and said, 'This is what I would like to take.'

"Again, not in an arrogant way, but in a confident, decisive way. I could see that from the first time I met him. There are guys who just know what they want and know what they have to do to get it.

"Jonathan Scott is one of those guys."

Davis, who noted that Scott's grade point average was above 3.0, said there were times he wondered how much higher it might have been had he not been playing football.

"That's probably just rhetoric," Davis added. "But I did think about how he would have done if he only concentrated on school."

Scott also exemplifies what Davis and Coach Brown have believed to be true for decades.

"The guys getting it done in the classroom," Davis said, "are going to be the guys getting it done on the field. The character traits of discipline, hard work, and dedication that make good football players also make good students."

Certainly, the same can be said for Jones, whose discipline, hard work and dedication in the classroom and on the track has made UT the grand experience she thought it would be when Coach Bev Kearney offered her a scholarship.

"When I think of Sheretta, along with poise and pride, I also think of promise," Ryan began. "In fact, that is the most important thing I associate with Sheretta -- promise.

"Sheretta represents not just the hope, but the promise of a great tomorrow. Her commitment, her poise, her pride, her compassion for others and her love for life lets me know that the world will be in good hands with leaders like Sheretta."