April 27, 2016
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Graduating seniors Rhys Johnson (men’s tennis) and Mallory Schonk (lacrosse) have been nominated for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship by Vanderbilt University.
The scholarship has been annually presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986, and is awarded to the league’s top male and female scholar-athletes. The recipients will be announced on April 28.
Rhys Johnson, Men’s Tennis
- Six-time Dean’s List at Vanderbilt
- ITA Academic Honor Roll (2014, 2015)
- Two-time Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll (2014, 2015)
- Developed independent 60-page economic research paper that identified changes in Australia sport league’s competitive balance
- Attended London School of Economics Summer school program
- Co-Facilitator of Green Dot Program at Vanderbilt designed to decrease power-based personal violence on campus
- ITA First Team All-American in Doubles (2015)
- Sat atop the ITA doubles rankings as No. 1 in country from Feb. 24 – Mar. 10, 2015.
- USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships doubles Semifinalist (2015)
- NCAA doubles tournament participant (2015)
- USTA/ITA Division I Men’s Ohio Valley Regional Doubles Champion (2015)
- Team Captain (2015-16)
- Member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
- Majoring in Economics with a 3.520 GPA
Mallory Schonk, Lacrosse
- Six-time Dean’s List at Vanderbilt
- IWLCA Academic Honor Roll
- Six-time SEC Academic Honor Roll Member
- Big East All-Academic Team (2015)
- Volunteers with Best Buddies Tennessee non-profit organization
- One of 13 Vanderbilt student-athletes to deliver shoes to those in need on service trip with Soles4Souls in Costa Rica in December 2014
- Volunteer for the Learning and Therapy Corner (Summer 2014)
- Volunteer for Department of Pastoral Care at Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital (Spring 2013-2015)
- Team Captain (2015-16)
- All-Big East First Team (2015)
- Two-time Big East Attacker of the Week
- American Lacrosse Conference Offensive Player of the Week (2014)
- Led Vanderbilt in points two years in a row (2014, 2015)
- Majoring in interdisciplinary studies; cognitive and linguistic development with 3.613 GPA
All 14 SEC schools have two nominees with the overall top male and female nominees in the league receiving a $15,000 post-graduate scholarship courtesy of the SEC and official sponsor AT&T. The 26 remaining male and female finalists for the award receive a $7,500 post-graduate scholarship.
The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 14 SEC institutions and are honored at the SEC Spring Meetings in Sandestin, Fla., in June.
Last year’s McWhorter Award recipients were Nathanael Franks of the Arkansas track & field team and Maddie Locus of the Georgia swim team.
