Eight student-athletes honored for excellence in athletics, academics and community service
SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? The Southern Conference today named its eight postgraduate scholarship recipients for the 2009-10 academic year. The eight student-athletes will be honored for their accomplishments at the Southern Conference Honors Dinner presented by the Carolina Ford Dealers in Hilton Head Island, S.C. on June 1, 2010.
The eight honorees include Dave Hart Graduate Scholarship recipient Jordan Walters (Furman), Dorothy Hicks Graduate Scholarship recipient Mary Kathryn Bowman (Appalachian State), David Knight Graduate Scholarship recipient Paige Kensrue (Elon), William V. Moore Graduate Scholarship presented by McMillan/Pazdan/Smith recipient Jessica Geiger (Georgia Southern), Bob McCloskey Insurance Graduate Scholarship recipients David Gift (Western Carolina) and Kristine Devine (The Citadel) and Camp Champs Graduate Scholarship recipients David Towarnicky (Appalachian State) and Kristina Kegerreis (Georgia Southern).
Jordan Walters, Furman, Dave Hart Graduate Scholarship
Furman’s Jordan Walters is the 2010 recipient of the Dave Hart Graduate Scholarship which is named in memory of former Southern Conference commissioner Dave Hart, Sr. Walters is a four-year letterwinner for the Paladins’ men’s tennis team and was voted as the team’s captain for his senior season. The Augusta, Ga., native has maintained a 3.86 grade point average while pursuing Bachelor of Science degree with a major in biology, and he intends to enroll in medical school in the fall of 2010. On the court, Walters is a three-time All-SoCon honoree in his first three years of competition, earning first-team distinction for doubles in 2008 and second-team honors for both singles and doubles in 2009. He was also an integral part of Furman’s back-to-back regular season and tournament championships in 2008 and 2009. Additionally, Walters has been involved with medical missions trips to Central America, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the South Carolina Leadership Forum.
Mary Kathryn Bowman, Appalachian State, Dorothy Hicks Graduate Scholarship
Mary Kathryn Bowman, a former women’s golfer at Appalachian State, is this year’s recipient of the Dorothy Hicks Graduate Scholarship, which is named for the first female faculty athletics representative in the Southern Conference. Bowman graduated from ASU in December 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in music education and a 3.96 GPA, becoming the first student-athlete to graduate from Appalachian while majoring in music. A four-year letterwinner on the women’s golf team, Bowman was the Mountaineers’ top finisher at the 2009 SoCon Women’s Golf Championship. In addition to her athletic exploits, Bowman served as the external chair of ASU’s Student Athletic Advisory Board, was a member of the Mountaineers’ marching band and was the principal trombonist of the ASU Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Originally from Winston-Salem, N.C., Bowman plans to enroll in a graduate trombone performance program in the fall of 2010 with the goal of becoming a professional trombonist.
Paige Kensrue, Elon, David Knight Graduate Scholarship
Paige Kensrue, a women’s tennis standout at Elon, has been awarded the David Knight Graduate Scholarship, which is presented in honor of the late Dr. David Knight, long-time faculty athletics representative at UNC Greensboro. Kensrue is in her fourth season with the Phoenix tennis team, having earned ITA Scholar Athlete, Dean’s List and Southern Conference Commissioner’s Medal accolades in each season. She was named second-team All-Southern Conference in 2009 with doubles partner Anna Milian. In the community, Kensrue has volunteered her time with Operation Christmas Child and Loaves and Fishes, and she also served as the vice president of Elon’s Student Athlete Advisory Board. The Deerfield, Ill., native is working towards a major in exercise science with a minor in psychology, and she plans to pursue a graduate degree in physical therapy in the fall.
Jessica Geiger, Georgia Southern, William V. Moore Graduate Scholarship presented by McMillan/Pazdan/Smith
Georgia Southern’s Jessica Geiger, a women’s basketball student-athlete for the past four seasons, is the recipient of the inaugural William V. Moore Graduate Scholarship presented by McMillan/Pazdan/Smith, which was created in memory of former College of Charleston faculty athletics representative and President of the Southern Conference Bill Moore. Originally from Lawrenceville, Ga., Geiger will earn a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree this spring, majoring in marketing with an emphasis on fashion marketing. Geiger finished her basketball career ranked in the top 10 in GSU history in career three-point field goal percentage as well as career blocked shots. As a senior, she helped guide the Eagles to the semifinals of the SoCon Tournament while finishing 13th in the league in rebounding at 5.3 per game. Geiger has been active in volunteering with the March of Dimes and the Special Olympics, and the 2009 recipient of a SoCon Coleman Lew Leadership Award has been honored each year as a member of the Dean’s List and the conference’s Academic All-Conference team. Following graduation, Geiger plans to pursue either a Master of International Business or an MBA with a concentration in international business.
David Gift, Western Carolina, Bob McCloskey Insurance Graduate Scholarship
David Gift, a recent graduate of Western Carolina who has already began graduate studies at the school while continuing to compete with the Catamounts’ track and field program, is the recipient of one of two Bob McCloskey Insurance Graduate Scholarships. Gift compiled a 3.731 grade point average while majoring in education and biology, and he enrolled in WCU’s graduate school in the spring of 2010, pursuing a degree in the Community College Teaching Physical Education program. Gift is a four-year letterwinner in track and field who was a key member of WCU’s 2007 and 2009 outdoor track and field championship teams as well as the 2009 indoor track and field championship squad. Individually, Gift was a three-time all-conference performer and the 2008 decathlon champion at the outdoor meet. The Warrensville, N.C., native was a member of the Dean’s List each year as an undergrad and earned Academic All-SoCon and Southern Conference Commissioner’s Medal citations. Gift intends to become a track and field coach as well as a teacher, either at the collegiate or high school level.
Kristine Devine, The Citadel, Bob McCloskey Insurance Graduate Scholarship
The Citadel’s Kristine Devine, a captain on the women’s soccer team, is also a recipient of the Bob McCloskey Insurance Graduate Scholarship. Devine started all 19 matches for the Bulldogs this season as they recorded the best season in school history with two wins and a pair of ties in league play. Devine has been active in the community, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and the Crisis Ministries Services, and in the classroom, she fashioned a 3.789 GPA while majoring in health and wellness. Devine accumulated a myriad of academic honors, including the SoCon Academic All-Conference team and, in 2009, a selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District women's soccer team for District 3. Beginning this summer, Devine plans to attend the Medical College of Georgia where she will pursue a postgraduate education in physical therapy.
David Towarnicky, Appalachian State, Camp Champs Graduate Scholarship
Appalachian State baseball first baseman David Towarnicky is being honored with a Camp Champs Graduate Scholarship. Towarnicky is a four-year starter for the Mountaineers who has excelled athletically and academically. He hit a career-best .328 as a junior and as of April 8, was batting .324 with five home runs and 23 RBIs in 2010. Towarnicky was honored as a member of the Southern Conference All-Tournament team as a junior, and this season, the league’s coaches selected him to the preseason all-conference first team. He has been honored each eligible season as a member of the league’s academic all-conference team, and last season, he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team. The New Bern, N.C., native is double-majoring in finance/banking and risk/insurance management while maintaining a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA. Following graduation, he intends to continue his education overseas studying finance and business with an emphasis in microfinance and meeting the needs of those in the most poverty stricken areas of the world.
Kristina Kegerreis, Georgia Southern, Camp Champs Graduate Scholarship
Kristina Kegerreis, a women’s tennis student-athlete from Georgia Southern, is also a recipient of the Camp Champs Graduate Scholarship. Kegerreis has accumulated a 3.77 grade point average while majoring in exercise science. She has been honored as a member of the Dean’s List, the SoCon Academic All-Conference team and the ITA All-Academic team. Originally from Fairfax, Va., Kegerreis has been accepted to the doctoral of physical therapy program at Old Dominion University, which she will begin in June. On the court, Kegerreis is a four-year letterwinner for the Eagles program while playing at both the number one singles and number one doubles positions. She won individual tournament championships in 2007 and 2008 while also qualifying for the ITA Regional Collegiate Championships. Away from the court, Kegerreis has been active with the Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and as a CPR instructor for the American Red Cross.
2010 Southern Conference Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Dave Hart Graduate Scholarship: Jordan Walters, Furman
Dorothy Hicks Graduate Scholarship: Mary Kathryn Bowman, Appalachian State
David Knight Graduate Scholarship: Paige Kensrue, Elon
William V. Moore Graduate Scholarship presented by Sharp Business Systems: Jessica Geiger, Georgia Southern
Bob McCloskey Insurance Graduate Scholarship: David Gift, Western Carolina; Kristine Devine, The Citadel
Camp Champs Graduate Scholarship: David Towarnicky, Appalachian State; Kristina Kegerreis, Georgia Southern