Jan. 14, 2009
View Gallery of Whiting’s Community Involvement
ATLANTA — Vanderbilt senior Rob Whiting was among five collegiate student-athletes honored Wednesday as finalists for the 2009 Wooden Cup, presented by Athletes for a Better World during a banquet at the East Lake Golf Club.
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was named the award’s collegiate winner, joining professional honoree Cal Ripken, Jr. Hobart’s Ryan Adler, Harvard’s Andrew Berry and Purdue’s Lauren Mioton joined Whiting and Tebow as the five finalists for the fifth-annual award.
Since coming to Vanderbilt, Whiting has worked tirelessly in the Nashville community and around the world. On campus, Whiting was an active member of SPEAR (Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility) before starting Vanderbilt Students for Students, which provides college mentoring as well as a scholarship for a deserving local high school student.
For the past three summers, Rob has been spending time in China teaching English to underprivileged areas while immersing himself in the language and culture. An Ingram Scholar at Vanderbilt, Rob plans to eventually return to China in hopes of promoting poverty alleviation and social entrepreneurship.