Loyola University senior guard Keiva Council continues her outstanding efforts off the court as she recently earned Loyola's Outstanding Ignatian Senior Woman Award. This is the first time a women's basketball player has received this prestigious honor.

The Outstanding Ignatian Award is annually given to select graduating seniors and graduate students for representing Loyola University New Orleans and its commitment to Ignatian values with distinction and honor. The Awards are the highest awards presented by Loyola University New Orleans to a graduating student. The recipient must have a distinguished, pronounced involvement in the life of the university, represent Loyola with honor and distinction, and possess a strong faith commitment. In addition to maintaining a distinguished grade point average, the award winner must demonstrate a commitment to the integrity of life, providing service to others, among other Ignatian and Jesuit values.

Keiva clearly demonstrated these values as she was selevted as an undergraduate delegate for Teach for America New Orleans Student Leaders of Color Summit in September 2011. The sociology major and criminal justice minor also was chosen as a representative for Loyola's athletic department to review the university's vision for the future in regards to athletics. Council also spent time volunteering with the Louisiana Green Corps, Catholic Charities' Crescent House, the North Rampart Community Center, and the Elevate Program's Kingsley House. She was selected SSAC All-Academic and All-Jesuit Academic Honorable Mention.

Among council's off the work charity and leadership work, she is one of the most decorated players in Loyola's history. This season, the Houston, Texas native had an outstanding senior year as she was named a State Farm WBCA All-American, First Team All-Louisiana, Second Team NAIA All-American, as well as the Allstate Sugar Bowl's Greater New Orleans Area Armature Athlete of the Month for January. Council also won multiple weekly awards throughout the 2011-2012 season which includes a four-time Jesuit Honor Roll honoree, a two-time Jesuit Player of the Week, a two-time LSWA Player of the Week, a NAIA Player of the Week, and a SSAC Player of the Week. She finished her senior season with 1,844 career points which puts her third on Loyola's all time scoring list. Council now holds the single season scoring record as she scored 669 points this year for a 23.1 scoring average.