Wildcat seniors chosen for SEC post-graduate scholarship.
(March 21, 2000) — University of Kentucky seniors Tiffany Wait and Jason Bell have been chosen for aSoutheastern Conference post-graduate scholarship and are finalists for the1999-2000 H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award,Commissioner Roy Kramer announced Tuesday.
Wait, a native of Hot Springs, Ark., is in her second year at UK’s School ofPharmacy. She was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll three straightseasons and earned a spot on the inaugural SEC Good Works Team and UK’sSociety of Character for her contribution on the basketball court, in the classroomand in the community.
The 5-11 forward played five seasons at Kentucky and became the sixth all-timeleading scorer with 1,442 career points. She averaged 12 points and threerebounds per game as a Wildcat and broke the school record for most gamesplayed in a career with 121.
Bell, a native of Louisville, Ky., was named to the All-SEC and All-MAC AcademicHonor Roll each of the past two seasons. Last year, Bell was awarded theprestigious Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Award. He was also a finalist in 1999 forthe Boyd McWhorter Award. Bell led UK in goals this season with eight and wassecond on the squad in points with 20. He scored both goals for the Cats in the1999 MAC Championships game against Northern Illinois, UK’s first MAC title.
Each finalist will receive a $5,000 scholarship for post-graduate studies. The SECFaculty Athletics Representatives Boyd McWhorter Selection Committee willchoose the outstanding male and female student-athletes and receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship,provided by the Alltel Corporation.
“These student-athletes have shown everyone what it takes to be a winner in every aspect of life,”Commissioner Kramer said. “We are proud to salute these fine student-athletes and hope that they can bean example for others to follow.”
The SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards were first presented in 1986. The award was renamed the H.Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in May 1990 to honor the former commissioner whoserved the conference from 1972-86.
The award will be presented to the two winners in June at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Fla.
FEMALE WINNERSSCHOOLName - Sport - HometownALABAMA Elizabeth Johnston - Golf - Benton, La.ARKANSAS Jessica Dailey - Track/Cross Country - Fayetteville, Ark.AUBURN Sarah Wentworth - Gymnastics - Neosho, Mo.FLORIDA Beth Dieter - Softball - Orlando, Fla.GEORGIA Shannon Ogg - Golf - Littleton, Colo.KENTUCKY Tiffany Wait - Basketball - Hot Springs, Ark.LSU Lisette Lee - Golf - Kenner, La.OLE MISS Irena Mihailova - Tennis - Skopje, MacedoniaMISSISSIPPI STATEPia Josefsson - Golf - Knivsta, SwedenSOUTH CAROLINA Joyce Peebles - Track & Field - Pendleton, S.C.TENNESSEE Heather Redecker - Soccer - Davie, Fla.VANDERBILT Christine Reitano - Track & Field - Brandon, Miss. MALE WINNERSSCHOOL Name - Sport - HometownALABAMA Mark Jollands - Swimming & Diving - Tuscaloosa, Ala.ARKANSAS Sheldon Begley - Track/Cross Country - Topeka, Ind.AUBURN Roland Thatcher - Golf - The Woodlands, TexasFLORIDA Stuart McFarland - Baseball - Arden Hills, Minn.GEORGIA Joey Pitts - Tennis - Smyrna, Ga.KENTUCKY Jason Bell - Soccer - Louisville, Ky.LSU Thomas Hand - Tennis - Baton Rouge, La.OLE MISS Jude Voltz - Baseball - Metairie, La.MISSISSIPPI STATE Michael Trailov - Golf - Franklin, Tenn.SOUTH CAROLINA Jerome Jourdon - Tennis - Courbevoie, FranceTENNESSEE Russell Johnson - Track & Field - Carrollton, Ga.VANDERBILT Andrew Nisker Tennis Kamoka, Ontario