The Southern Conference Announces 2026 Graduate Scholars

SPARTANBURG, SC – The Southern Conference announced its 10 postgraduate scholarship recipients for the 2025-2026 academic year on Wednesday.

The scholarships, awarded annually, will be presented during the 2026 awards ceremony at the J.W. Marriott Hotel Savannah Plant Riverside District on Wednesday, as part of the conference’s spring meetings.

The 2025-2026 honorees include: Richard Johnson Graduate Scholarship recipient Kerrington Mariah Johnson(Wofford); Dave Hart Scholarship recipient Brandon Maina (Wofford); Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship recipients Lena Dykes (Mercer) and Colton Sessoms (UNC Greensboro); Dorothy Hicks Scholarship recipient Brianna Cantrell (ETSU); David Knight Scholarship recipient Taylor Waitley (Western Carolina); William V. Moore Scholarship presented by McMillan Pazdan Smith recipient Darcy Nicholls (Samford); Ingles Presidential Scholarship recipient Landy Green (Western Carolina); and SoCon Presidential Scholarship recipients Fleming Dean (Samford) and Skylar Hilmer (Furman).

Southern Conference member schools submit nominations, and the recipients are selected by the Southern Conference Graduate Scholar Committee. The scholarships are worth $2,000 each and are awarded to student-athletes who plan to pursue graduate or professional degrees. The nominees are evaluated in three areas: academics, athletics, and community service.

Bios for each of this year’s scholarship recipients are listed below, in alphabetical order by school:

Brianna Cantrell – ETSU Volleyball

Dorothy Hicks Scholarship

ETSU volleyball standout Brianna Cantrell excelled both on the court and in the classroom, maintaining a 3.892 GPA while majoring in Rehabilitative Health Sciences with a minor in Psychology. A four-year contributor and team captain, Cantrell earned multiple SoCon honors, including Second Team All-SoCon recognition in 2022 and 2025, as well as 2022 SoCon Freshman of the Year laurels. She helped ETSU to the 2025 SoCon Regular Season title and 23 wins, while surpassing 1,000 career kills. Cantrell volunteered extensively with pediatric therapy services, speech and language clinics, and retirement communities to prepare for graduate studies in Occupational Therapy. 

Skylar Hilmer – Furman Lacrosse
SoCon Presidential Scholarship

Furman lacrosse student-athlete Skylar Hilmer combined academic excellence, research experience, and athletic achievement while maintaining a 4.0 GPA as a psychology major. A Second Team All-Big South choice in 2025, Hilmer also earned CSC Academic All-District honors, a spot on the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll, and multiple Dean’s List recognitions. Inspired by her brother’s autism diagnosis, she pursued research in memory and cognition while interning at an autism behavioral center. Hilmer plans to pursue a master’s degree in psychology at San Diego State before working toward a Ph.D. and pursuing a career focused on educational and social cognition research.

Lena Dykes – Mercer Women’s Soccer

Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship

Mercer women’s soccer standout Lena Dykes excelled academically and athletically while pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering with a mathematics minor. A President’s List student and three-time CSC Academic All-District honoree, Dykes plans to continue at Mercer in graduate school studying biomedical engineering with the goal of becoming a clinical rehabilitation engineer. Inspired by volunteer work fitting prosthetics for amputees in Vietnam, she developed a passion for improving mobility and quality of life through medical technology. Dykes balanced her studies with community service, including tutoring elementary students and extensive international medical mission work. She played a key role through 15 matches this past season, helping the Bears shut out seven opponents. Mercer advanced to the SoCon Championship Game in November.

Fleming Dean – Samford Women’s Soccer

SoCon Presidential Scholarship

Samford women’s soccer captain Fleming Dean paired elite academic achievement with championship success on the field. She helped Samford to back-to-back SoCon championships in 2024 and 2025, earning the Pinnacle Award and second-team All-SoCon honors this past season – all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA while majoring in accounting. Also a member of multiple Dean’s Lists, she plans to pursue a Master of Accounting degree and CPA certification before beginning a career with a major accounting firm. Dean also served on Samford’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council, helping lead community outreach initiatives while demonstrating leadership as a team captain. 

Darcy Nicholls – Samford Men’s Tennis

William V. Moore Scholarship presented by McMillan Pazdan Smith
Samford men’s tennis standout Darcy Nicholls maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while excelling as both a student and athlete. A back-to-back member of the SoCon Men’s Tennis Championship squad in 2025 and 2026, Nicholls earned All-SoCon honors in singles and doubles once again. Nicholls earned the SoCon Pinnacle Award in both 2025 and 2026 and was also an ITA Scholar Athlete. Majoring in Law, Politics and Society and Political Science, he plans to pursue his law degree after competing professionally in tennis. Nicholls also volunteered extensively with special needs students and youth organizations, reflecting his commitment to service and leadership beyond athletics. He was named Samford’s 2026 Mr. Bulldog Award winner, which exemplifies the true meaning of the term student-athlete.

Colton Sessoms – UNCG Men’s Soccer
Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship

UNCG men’s soccer student-athlete Colton Sessoms excelled at balancing academic achievement, athletic success, and leadership while pursuing a degree in kinesiology with a psychology minor. A Southern Conference All-Freshman Team selection and NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and Sweet 16 participant in 2022, Sessoms earned multiple Chancellor’s List and Academic All-District honors. He played in 23 matches as a senior and helped the Spartans to a spot in the Sweet 16 after a first-round win in the NCAA Championship. Motivated by his experiences with injury rehabilitation as an athlete, he plans to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Winston-Salem State University, with aspirations to work in sports rehabilitation and outpatient orthopedics. Sessoms also served in team leadership roles and assisted in kinesiology research. 

Landey Green – Western Carolina Cross Country / Track & Field

Ingles Presidential Scholarship

Western Carolina cross country and track student-athlete Landey Green distinguished herself through academic excellence, leadership, and community service while maintaining a 3.8 GPA in psychology. Green plans to pursue a Master of Social Work at the University of Tennessee. A leader within WCU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and multiple campus organizations, she volunteered with food banks, crisis ministries, and organizations supporting survivors of sex trafficking. Green balanced a heavy load of athletic and academic commitments while dedicating herself to advocacy, service, and community engagement to help others.

Taylor Waitley – Western Carolina Softball

David Knight Scholarship

Western Carolina softball standout Taylor Waitley maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in biology and forensic science with a chemistry minor. A multiple-time CSC Academic All-District selection and team captain, Waitley plans to pursue graduate studies in biomedical or medical science as she works toward a career in forensic pathology. Inspired by a lifelong passion for science, she balanced athletics with research-focused academics and extensive service, including hospital volunteer work and relief efforts following Hurricane Helene. Waitley also demonstrated leadership within the softball program while excelling in the classroom and community. She batted a career-best .320 this past season with three home runs and 33 RBI for a WCU team that won 34 games.

Brandon Maina – Wofford Football

Dave Hart Scholarship

Wofford football standout Brandon Maina combined athletic excellence with a passion for healthcare and service while majoring in finance with an accounting minor. A three-time All-SoCon selection with 19.5 career sacks – good for fifth in Wofford history – Maina will pursue an MBA before attending medical school with the goal of becoming a physician for underserved communities. He balanced football with healthcare administration experience, medical volunteer work, and leadership roles within Wofford’s student-athlete organizations. Maina’s commitment to community impact and healthcare advocacy reflects his long-term goal of improving access to quality care. In 2025, Maina ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game and earned a spot on the prestigious FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team.

Kerrington Mariah Johnson – Wofford Track & Field

Richard Johnson Graduate Scholarship

Wofford track and field standout Kerrington Johnson built an exceptional career marked by academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community leadership. The SoCon Freshman of the Year in 2021, Johnson garnered 14 All-SoCon honors, nine conference titles individually, and two relay titles during her career with the Terriers. Also a school record holder in the hurdles, Johnson maintained a 3.91 GPA while majoring in finance. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in health education and behavior at the University of Florida, with aspirations to improve community wellness and healthcare access. Beyond athletics, Johnson served in numerous campus leadership and mentoring roles while dedicating extensive time to volunteerism and student support initiatives.