LEXINGTON, Ky. – On Thursday the Southeastern Conference announced the male and female Brad Davis Community Service Award Winners for each of its 16 member institutions, who will all receive a $7,500 post-graduate scholarship provided by the SEC. The University of Kentucky is represented by swimmer Bridget Engel and track & cross country star Jackson Watts.
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship is named for former Associate Commissioner Brad Davis. Davis succumbed to cancer on March 2, 2006. He had been a member of the SEC staff since 1988, first serving as an assistant commissioner until 1994 when he was promoted to associate commissioner.
Bridget Engel represents the swim and dive program as Kentucky’s Female SEC Community Service Award winner. The fifth-year has worked tirelessly both in and out of the pool, being named not just as an NCAA Qualifier, but also has earned credit for the countless hours she helps within the community.
Engel has been most active in volunteering with children at Southland Youth Ministry, but also the Ronald McDonald house and Markey Cancer Center as well. This school year she has contributed nearly 50 hours, giving back to Lexington and the surrounding areas.
The representative for the Male SEC Community Service Award for the Wildcats is track and field/cross country distance runner, Jackson Watts. During his four-year career at Kentucky, Watts has contributed to several different groups and local organizations, primarily working with the Big Brother Big Sister program.
Watts has been a staple of his community, serving the Lexington area by mentoring the youth in the local school system. Earlier this week, Watts was also honored with the Community Service Award at the 2025 CATSPYS Awards ceremony.
Both student-athletes are great examples of hard work in all aspects of life, and have shown dedication to Kentucky over their college careers. Engel and Watts are both nominees for the Male and Female Brad Davis Community Service Leaders of the Year which will be announced later in May and the overall winner receiving $10,000.
