NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Women’s lacrosse senior Emily Mathewson was one of two Vanderbilt University athletes recognized on Thursday when the SEC announced its Brad Davis Community Service Awards and nominees for Brad Davis Community Service Leaders of the Year.
Mathewson’s community service ranged from serving as a Dancing Dore captain where she raised money for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, volunteering at the Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness 5k, and assisting with the annual field day and athletics holiday party festivities benefitting Buena Vista Elementary students as well as Trick or Treat with the Greeks where she handed out candy and provided Nashville communities and children a fun, safe space for Halloween.
Mathewson also worked with Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (VSVS) for a semester where she went to a local middle school and taught hands-on science lessons to the students, spent two Fall breaks with Feed the Children where she packaged over 1,000 food boxes for Nashville families, and was a volunteer at Interfaith Dental Clinic, a non-profit that provides transformational oral health care to those in need.
In addition, Mathewson demonstrated her selflessness and devotion to Nashville’s community through her relationship with Bella, Vanderbilt lacrosse’s Miracle Child and honorary teammate. Mathewson coordinated all team interactions, including a birthday party, meals, and game and practice experiences.
A two-time all-conference selection with 107 career goals, Mathewson recently graduated with her degree in human and organizational development and is set to attend dental school. She ranks among the top 10 all-time at Vanderbilt with 61 assists and 168 points in her career.
Each SEC school has a male and female nominated for the Community Service Leaders of the Year which will be announced next week. Football standout Cody Markel is Vanderbilt’s male nominee. Only two Commodores have earned Community Service Leader of the Year honors, including lacrosse alumnae Brooke Shinaberry in 2008 and Andrea Bullock (women’s golf) in 1997.
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.
Mathewson and Markel will each receive a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship provided by the SEC, or if selected as the Community Service Leaders of the Year, each will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, provided by the SEC.
