April 17, 2008

COLUMBIA – South Carolina seniors Whitney Simons and Warren Thomas were named to the SEC Women’s and Men’s Golf Community Service Teams, respectively, the league announced today. Each of the 20 league-sponsored sports has a Community Service Team, which looks to highlight a student-athlete from each school who gives back to his or her community.

Simons has been an active member of the University’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, having served as its history vice-president and its current president. She has volunteered with the Harvest Hope Food Bank, Epworth Children’s Home, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and First Tee Golf Clinics. She is also a member of the USC Academic Building Committee. Simons was named NGCA All-America Scholar three times and was the 2006 SEC Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She is a member of the Golden Key International Society, the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Fraternity and the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. Simons is a four-year letterwinner for the Gamecocks and is serving as a team co-captain this year.

Thomas has been a Toys for Tots volunteer and assisted with the USC-City of Columbia Junior Golf Clinic while also participating in team outings with the City of Columbia Driving for Golf and Academic Improvement. He is a Columbia Animal Preservation Society volunteer and a member of USC’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A four-year letterwinner, Thomas was a 2007 Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar and has appeared on the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times.

Both Simons and Thomas are set to help their teams contend for the title at the SEC Championships beginning on Fri., Apr. 18. The women’s event is at Tennessee National in Loudon, Tenn., while the men will play at the Frederica Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Ga.