SEC TO RELEASE McWHORTER POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH NATIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETE DAY
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –Softball player Ashley Dimkich and baseball player Greg Dombrowski have been nominated by the University of Kentucky for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship.
The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league?s top male and female scholar-athletes.
The Southeastern Conference will name the 2008 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship on April 6 in conjunction with National Student-Athlete Day.
Dimkich, a senior from San Marino, Calif., has earned a 3.67 grade point average, majoring in Elementary Education. She is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll (2007-08 honor roll released later in spring) and has been named to the University of Kentucky Dean?s List and the UK Athletics Director?s Honor Roll.
She is also a lifetime member of Delta Epsilon Iota, which recognizes academic excellence and strong leadership qualities, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
A four-year letterwinner, Dimkich is serving as team captain of this year?s squad. She is an inductee into the UK Frank G. Ham Society of Character, which is the highest honor the UK Athletic Department bestows on its student-athletes. She has also been named as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America Scholar-Athlete.
She is very active in the Lexington community, participating in UK?s ?Cats That Care? program, performing more than 60 hours of community service. She also has participated in the ?Cats Cultivating Character? program as well as participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, YMCA, Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and the UK Children?s Hospital.
Dombrowski, a senior from Rome, N.Y., has earned a 3.52 grade point average, with a major in Kinesiology. He is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll (2007-08 honor roll released later in spring) and has been named to the University of Kentucky Dean?s List and the UK Athletics Director?s Honor Roll.
He is also a member of Delta Epsilon Iota, which recognizes academic excellence and strong leadership qualities, and the Golden Key International Honor Society. He has also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors and is an inductee into the UK Frank G. Ham Society of Character.
Athletically, he was a pre-season NCBWA third-team All-America selection and a second-team ABCA All-South Region pick as a pitcher. He is also a nominee for the Roger Clemens Award, given to the nation?s top pitcher.
In the Lexington community, he has served as an assistant coach on Special Olympics teams and Little Leagues as well as promoting the Children?s Miracle League, designed to give handicapped children the opportunity to compete. He is a member of the UK Athletes In Action chapter and has spoken at local elementary schools. He has also collected donations for the Red Cross and conducting food drives for God?s Pantry.
The SEC Office will be releasing each of its institution’s nominees periodically until the April 6 winners are announced. The schedule is as follows:
Alabama ? Joseph Sykora, Golf (Male) / Jordan Praytor, Softball (Female)
Arkansas ? Tyler Hill, Track & Field (Male) / Stacy Lewis, Golf (Female)
Auburn ? Cole Bennett, Football (Male) / Kristen Hastrup, Swimming (Female)
Florida ? Kevin Nead, Swimming & Diving (Male) / Bianca Gibbs Bentley, Soccer (Female)
Georgia ? Ian Burrell, Track & Field (Male) / Karen Guilkey, Swimming & Diving (Female)
Kentucky ? Greg Dombrowski, Baseball (Male) / Ashley Dimkich, Softball (Female)
LSU ? March 27
Ole Miss ? March 28
Miss. State ? March 31
South Carolina ? April 1
Tennessee ? April 2
Vanderbilt ? April 3
National Student-Athlete Day was created in 1987 by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) and Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society, and presented by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).
National Student-Athlete Day is held each April 6 to celebrate outstanding student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics while having made significant contributions to the community. It is also a time to recognize those parents, teachers, coaches and school systems which make it possible for young people to find the balance between academics and athletics.
Each year, the SEC, in conjunction with AT&T, an SEC Corporate Champion sponsor, provides the league’s male and female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship recipients with a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship. The 22 remaining male and female finalists for the award will also receive a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship. The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 12 SEC institutions and are honored at the SEC Spring Meetings in Sandestin, Fla. on May 29.
Last year’s recipients were Alabama baseball player Emeel Salem and Vanderbilt track and field athlete Erika Schneble.
