Army West Point Athletics
Thomas, Stroud Named November Scholar-Athletes of the Month by Center for Enhanced Performance
December 09, 2025 | General
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Army West Point Athletics Association's Academic Support team has selected its scholar-athletes for the month of November, recognizing football's Andon Thomas and volleyball's Nicole Stroud.
Andon Thomas '26 (Football)
Cadet Andon Thomas has consistently demonstrated excellence across all pillars at USMA. Ranked 36th in his class overall, Cadet Thomas is a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award, recognizing a player's collective academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. A team captain, Andon ranks No. 14 in the nation in solo tackles per game (5.0).
He has started at inside linebacker in all 10 games this season (through 11/22), and he leads the team in total tackles (87), solo tackles (50), and passes defended (5). Cadet Thomas has logged 10+ tackles in four games this season, including a season-high 14 tackles in the season opener against Tarleton State and 10 tackles versus Air Force. Entering the season having been named to the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, Cadet Thomas has lived up to his billing on the gridiron.
Cadet Thomas's academic performance is equally stellar. A Chemical Engineering major, CDT Thomas has earned a cumulative academic GPA of 4.02. His instructors rave about his exceptional classroom performance. One professor offered that:
"CDT Andon Thomas has performed exceptionally well in one of the most challenging courses offered at the Academy, CH485 – Heat & Mass Transfer. He has routinely performed at the top of the class, currently earning an average of 94% [through 11/19] in a course that averages 82-85%. He is attentive in class, studies hard outside of class due to his athletic commitments, and contributes to in-class discussion and group work in the laboratory. He is the most well-rounded chemical engineering cadet that I have taught in seven years at the Academy."
Another professor shared that Cadet Thomas "consistently contribute[s] to our classroom discussions with nuanced, well-reasoned, and well-communicated input. His leadership in the classroom sets the example for other athletes and pushes them to exceed the standard as well."
Militarily, Cadet Thomas serves as the Second Regiment, Second Battalion Commander, and he carriers a 3.50 military program GPA. Like his professors, CDT Thomas' chain-of-command lauds his performance in the military pillar. For instance, his tactical officer offered that CDT Thomas is "a leader within 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment as much as he is a leader on the Football Team…Although CDT Thomas is frequently away from the Battalion due to his commitments with the Football Team, he is a consistently positive role-model for the underclassmen. When the Battalion seriously underperformed during the SAMI in October, CDT Thomas led the unit to retrain on uniform and barracks standards. This culminated in a successful BN-level SAMI 'recertification' for the following A-Weekend, which was observed and commended by the Brigade Tactical Officer. CDT Thomas was tactful yet decisive in this endeavor."
Additionally, CDT Thomas is a standout in the physical pillar, even off the football field, having earned a 3.81 physical program GPA. On the fall Army Fitness Test, he scored a 499/500, the highest score of any male cadet in his company and on the battalion staff.
Nicole Stroud '28 (Volleyball)
Cadet Nicole Stroud currently maintains a 3.752 Academic GPA as a Biology major, making the Dean's list every semester she's been at West Point. She has worked with LTC Hummel on research efforts and hopes to attend medical school following West Point. On the Army Volleyball Team, Nicole has served as the "go-to" tutor for Chemistry and has spearheaded team study halls. She has been instrumental in building a positive and winning team culture, and she was influential in the team reaching the Patriot League Championship match against American on Sunday, Nov. 23rd.
Cadet Stroud has put up an impressive showing and anchored the team from the libero position with a season total of 154 digs, averaging 2.44 digs per set. She also scored with 16 service aces, averaging .22 aces per set.
Coach Alma Kovaci Lee had this to say, "Nicole brings a powerful sense of calm and stability to our game. She communicates with clarity and confidence, and her selfless competitive spirit is unmatched. She will take on any role that helps the team succeed, and she does it with grace and humility. We are incredibly proud of her and the impact she makes every single day."
Andon Thomas '26 (Football)
Cadet Andon Thomas has consistently demonstrated excellence across all pillars at USMA. Ranked 36th in his class overall, Cadet Thomas is a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award, recognizing a player's collective academic success, football performance, and exemplary leadership. A team captain, Andon ranks No. 14 in the nation in solo tackles per game (5.0).
He has started at inside linebacker in all 10 games this season (through 11/22), and he leads the team in total tackles (87), solo tackles (50), and passes defended (5). Cadet Thomas has logged 10+ tackles in four games this season, including a season-high 14 tackles in the season opener against Tarleton State and 10 tackles versus Air Force. Entering the season having been named to the 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, presented annually to the most outstanding defensive player in college football, Cadet Thomas has lived up to his billing on the gridiron.
Cadet Thomas's academic performance is equally stellar. A Chemical Engineering major, CDT Thomas has earned a cumulative academic GPA of 4.02. His instructors rave about his exceptional classroom performance. One professor offered that:
"CDT Andon Thomas has performed exceptionally well in one of the most challenging courses offered at the Academy, CH485 – Heat & Mass Transfer. He has routinely performed at the top of the class, currently earning an average of 94% [through 11/19] in a course that averages 82-85%. He is attentive in class, studies hard outside of class due to his athletic commitments, and contributes to in-class discussion and group work in the laboratory. He is the most well-rounded chemical engineering cadet that I have taught in seven years at the Academy."
Another professor shared that Cadet Thomas "consistently contribute[s] to our classroom discussions with nuanced, well-reasoned, and well-communicated input. His leadership in the classroom sets the example for other athletes and pushes them to exceed the standard as well."
Militarily, Cadet Thomas serves as the Second Regiment, Second Battalion Commander, and he carriers a 3.50 military program GPA. Like his professors, CDT Thomas' chain-of-command lauds his performance in the military pillar. For instance, his tactical officer offered that CDT Thomas is "a leader within 2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment as much as he is a leader on the Football Team…Although CDT Thomas is frequently away from the Battalion due to his commitments with the Football Team, he is a consistently positive role-model for the underclassmen. When the Battalion seriously underperformed during the SAMI in October, CDT Thomas led the unit to retrain on uniform and barracks standards. This culminated in a successful BN-level SAMI 'recertification' for the following A-Weekend, which was observed and commended by the Brigade Tactical Officer. CDT Thomas was tactful yet decisive in this endeavor."
Additionally, CDT Thomas is a standout in the physical pillar, even off the football field, having earned a 3.81 physical program GPA. On the fall Army Fitness Test, he scored a 499/500, the highest score of any male cadet in his company and on the battalion staff.
Nicole Stroud '28 (Volleyball)
Cadet Nicole Stroud currently maintains a 3.752 Academic GPA as a Biology major, making the Dean's list every semester she's been at West Point. She has worked with LTC Hummel on research efforts and hopes to attend medical school following West Point. On the Army Volleyball Team, Nicole has served as the "go-to" tutor for Chemistry and has spearheaded team study halls. She has been instrumental in building a positive and winning team culture, and she was influential in the team reaching the Patriot League Championship match against American on Sunday, Nov. 23rd.
Cadet Stroud has put up an impressive showing and anchored the team from the libero position with a season total of 154 digs, averaging 2.44 digs per set. She also scored with 16 service aces, averaging .22 aces per set.
Coach Alma Kovaci Lee had this to say, "Nicole brings a powerful sense of calm and stability to our game. She communicates with clarity and confidence, and her selfless competitive spirit is unmatched. She will take on any role that helps the team succeed, and she does it with grace and humility. We are incredibly proud of her and the impact she makes every single day."
This Week in Army Football: Navy
Tuesday, December 09
Army at UTSA Game Highlights
Sunday, November 30
This Week in Army Football: UTSA
Tuesday, November 25
This Week in Army Football: Tulsa
Tuesday, November 18