Former University of Kentucky punter Sevin ?Sevy? Sucurovic is a winner of the Giant Steps Award, announced today on National Student-Athlete Day by the National Consortium of Academics and Sports (NCAS).

The Giant Steps Awards are given to individuals who exemplify the meaning of National Student-Athlete Day. Sucurovic (pronounced ?su-CUR-o-vich?) has shown remarkable determination during his life. He was born in Bosnia, lived through civil war, moved to the United States, and eventually earned a scholarship as the starting punter on the UK football team while completing his degree.

?I thank the NCAS and am happy to be recognized,? Sucurovic said. ?I hope it will be an encouragement and motivation for other athletes that they can accomplish their goals.?

It is Sucurovic?s second national award. In December, he was named the winner of the Inspirational Award given by the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl as the most inspirational player of the year in college football.

?Sevy has made such a positive impact on us,? Coach Rich Brooks said. ?He is an example of the real student-athlete. He overcame many hurdles to reach his educational and athletic goals. He is going to be a huge success in life and is very deserving of this award.?

Sucurovic graduated from UK with a degree in kinesiology and plans to enroll in the DeVos Sports Business Management graduate-school program at the University of Central Florida.

The winners of the 2005 Giant Steps Awards and the categories of their selection include:

David Stern, Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (Civic Leader);

Sevin Sucurovic of Kentucky, Macharia Yuot of Widener University, and Mohammad Rafiq of California-Davis (Courageous Student-Athlete, male);

Destiny Woodbury, University of Rhode Island (Courageous Student-Athlete, female); and

Ken Carter, former basketball coach at Richmond, Calif., High School, subject of the movie ?Coach Carter.?

Sucurovic?s achievements are remarkable in their own right; however, understanding the distance he has traveled ? both literally and figuratively ? makes the accomplishments even more amazing.

Sucurovic grew up in the rural area of Tuzla, Bosnia, and was nine years old when war began. He remembers sleeping in four pairs of pants and three or four jackets in order to have extra clothes in case his family had to leave the house quickly because of danger.

Sucurovic?s family moved to another village while his father was fighting in the war. Sevin?s school was five miles away and he had to walk a 10-mile round trip each day, wondering if he would make it safely. After approximately six years, the war officially ended, although sporadic fighting continued.

The devastation caused by the war brought on a struggling economy and high unemployment rate. The Sucurovic family decided to move to Boston, Massachusetts, and join other family members there.

After considerable time going through government red tape and getting the necessary money, the Sucurovics moved to the United States in 1998 ? four people, three suitcases, and $2,000 in hand from selling all of the family?s possessions. Sevin was 16 years old. Six months later, the family relocated to Lexington, Ky., where some friends had found employment.

In Lexington, Sevin?s father Osman worked at two, or sometimes three, jobs. Sevin?s mother, Naila, also held down two jobs and Sevin worked at Kroger when he wasn?t attending classes as a junior at Henry Clay High School.

Fate intervened at Henry Clay. Sucurovic?s class in physical education, taught by football coach Sam Simpson, was kicking footballs. Sevin had never seen an American football game, but having played soccer as a child, he impressed Simpson with his ability to kick the ball. Simpson asked Sevin to join the football team and compete for the kicker?s job.

Fate intervened again, however, and this time unkindly. Walking home from practice one day, Sevin was hit by a jeep and sustained two broken bones in his neck.

Sevin eventually recovered from his injuries, but he was out for the season. He returned to the football field as a senior in 1999. He performed well as a kicker and was named second-team all-city by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

After graduation, Sucurovic enrolled at UK and made the football team as a walk-on kicker. His perseverance was tested again. He saw limited action for three years as a placekicker with the varsity and junior varsity teams, including one redshirt season. He switched to punter as a junior in 2003 and earned a scholarship before finally becoming the full-time starting punter during his senior season.

Sucurovic averaged 43.9 yards per punt in 2004, the fourth-highest single-season mark in school history. He had the top average in the Southeastern Conference, but did not qualify for official league leadership because he played in eight games, one short of the minimum number necessary to qualify.

Sucurovic had been in the United States only two years when he enrolled at UK. Although he was still learning the nuances of the English language, he succeeded in the classroom and graduated with a degree in kinesiology. UK Athletics inducted Sucurovic into the Frank G. Ham Society of Character, which is given for exceptional commitment to academic excellence, athletic participation, personal development, being a role model, and career preparation.

?There are so many people who have helped me,? Sucurovic said. ?One person who did a lot was my dad. If it weren?t for him, we wouldn?t have been able to come here.

?Ekrem Dzambic was the person in Boston who helped us get to the United States and Bekrija Kurahovic helped us move to Kentucky. One of the big influences on me was Coach Simpson at Henry Clay. He really helped me and if it weren?t for him I wouldn?t have gotten involved in sports. Also, Coach Len Cox at Henry Clay. And, of course, the entire staff in CATS (UK?s Center for Academic and Tutorial Services), because I was really struggling (in school) when I came to UK.?

Going from Bosnia to a new country, from his native language to English, and from a hospital bed to the football field, Sucurovic has indeed made giant steps, over and over.

?Growing up, I always dreamed about playing college and pro sports but there were so few opportunities in Bosnia,? Sucurovic said. ?I was motivated by the opportunities in the United States. Plus, nobody in my family has earned a college degree. I wanted to be the first one.?

Anderson Withdraws From School: Linebacker Chad Anderson has chosen to withdrawn from school, Coach Rich Brooks announced following Wednesday morning?s practice.

Anderson was a three-year letterman for the Wildcats, playing in 27 games with 11 starts. His career totals feature 170 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 quarterback sacks, three pass interceptions, and two pass breakups. His best season was in 2003, Brooks? first season at UK, when Anderson made 125 tackles and led the Southeastern Conference in tackles per game. He would have been a senior in the 2005 season.

?We wish him well in whatever he decides to do in the future,? Brooks said.

Kentucky returns to practice Friday from 9-11 a.m. Practices are held in Commonwealth Stadium or the Nutter Field House and are open to the public and media.

Kentucky Football Calendar (practices held in Commonwealth Stadium or Nutter Field House): Fri. Apr. 8 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 9 – Practice (scrimmage), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mon. Apr. 11 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 13 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 15 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 16 – Practice (scrimmage), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mon. Apr. 18 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 20 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 22 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 23 – Blue/White Spring Game, 1 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium