University of Kentucky wide receiver Cheddi Acham has beenchosen as the winner of the fifth annual Trent DiGiuro MemorialScholarship.
Acham, a junior from London, Ontario, earned his first varsityletter during the 1998 season. He played in all 11 games, seeing mostlyspecial teams action. He caught one pass during the season, an 11-yardreception in the win at Louisville.
As a freshman in 1995-96, Acham played soccer at LincolnMemorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. He transferred to UK and won aplace on the football team. He played in all five games for the UKjunior varsity team in 1997 before seeing varsity action in 1998. Achamis working on his bachelor’s degree in journalism.
The scholarship fund was established by family and friends offormer UK offensive guard Trent DiGiuro, who died on July 17, 1994.Mike’s parents, Mike and Ann DiGiuro, officially established the fund onOct. 24, 1994.
The fund provides one or more scholarships each year to studentswho:
1) are walk-on (non-scholarship) football players at UK;
2) have played on the football team at least two years;
3) have maintained a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.5;and
4) best exemplify the dedication, determination, hard work, andleadership typified by Trent DiGiuro.
If no walk-on player meets the above criteria, the scholarshipis awarded to a manager or trainer who has completed two years of service, maintained a cumulative GPA of at least2.5, and has exemplified the dedication, determination, hard work, andleadership typified by Trent DiGiuro.
“I want to say ‘thank you’ to Trent’s parents and the otherpeople responsible for the scholarship,” Acham said. “It is a great wayto honor the memory of Trent and I’m honored to be the person selectedto receive the scholarship.”
Trent DiGiuro was from Goshen, Ky., and earned all-districthonors at South Oldham High School. He came to UK as a walk-onoffensive lineman in 1991. Through hard work and perseverance, he beganearning playing time in 1993 as the Wildcats advanced to the Peach Bowl.In the off-season, he posted the best bench press on the team and hefinished 1994 spring practice as the starting right guard. Trent alsomade steady progress in his academic work and earned a place on the 1993Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll.
The first DiGiuro Scholarship was given in 1995 to placekickerBrent Claiborne. Subsequent scholarships have been awarded to managerAndrew Cline (1996), trainer Patrick Sininger (1997), and linebackerStephan Walters (1998).
