Academic Study Lounge is Named for Steve Mauldin ’90

‘Serious focus on sport and scholarship can indeed coexist,’ says the Spartans’ three-time Academic All-American

By Holly Neumann

The Academic Study Lounge in the Martinez Athletics Center was renamed in April in honor of Stephen H. Mauldin, a member of UT’s Class of 1990 and a member of UT’s Board of Trustees since 2018.

Baseball coaches Sam Militello ’02, left, and Joe Urso ’92 flank Trustee Stephen H. Mauldin ’90 at a ceremony in the study lounge. Photo by Jessica Leigh

The renaming recognizes Mauldin’s achievements as a student-athlete, his commitment to UT as an alum and his philanthropic efforts.

The two-story study space is now known as the Stephen H. Mauldin Academic Study Lounge and is available for all UT students to use for individual and group study.

Mauldin, a 2008 inductee into the UT Athletic Hall of Fame, was a four-year letterman in baseball and is UT’s only male three-time Academic All-American. Among other conference, regional and national baseball accolades, he concluded his four years at UT ranked in the Spartan top-five in career batting average, hits, RBI, at-bats and games played.

A plaque recognizes Steve Mauldin’s contributions to UT. Pictured: Mauldin, his wife, Tamara Abreu, and Renée and President Vaughn. Photo by Jessica Leigh

UT’s baseball Head Coach Joe Urso ’92, who was a teammate of Mauldin’s at UT, said Mauldin exemplified “perfection” as a student-athlete. “I will always remember Steve’s leadership on and off the field,” Urso said. “He made all of us around him better.”

For Mauldin, who was drafted by the California Angels in the 19th round out of high school and opted instead to attend UT to focus on his education, the study lounge represents a commitment to excellence in Spartan Athletics.

“I am genuinely honored to potentially be a small reminder of the power of the word and to UT student-athletes,” said Mauldin. “Serious focus on sport and scholarship can indeed coexist at the same time.”

The study lounge is in UT’s Martinez Athletics Center. The centerpiece of the room features a pillar called the Spartan Pinnacle that has an inscription reading, “UT prides itself on educating the whole person — academically, spiritually and physically — in order to prepare our future leaders.”

“Steve has set an example for all UT students, especially our student-athletes,” President Ronald Vaughn said. “The study lounge being named in his honor will serve as a daily reminder to strive for excellence.”

A plaque recognizing Mauldin’s philanthropic contributions to the University and his position as a role model was revealed at an April event in the study lounge. After the official unveiling of the plaque, Mauldin, along with his family and friends, attended a UT baseball game, where Mauldin was recognized for his dedication to UT’s students during the third inning.