April 8, 2005
Birmingham, Ala. – University of South Carolina diver Holly Hodges and Louisiana State University baseball player Jordan Faircloth have been named recipients of the 2004-2005 Southeastern Conference Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Friday. For the second consecutive year, a USC student-athlete has earned this honor from the SEC. Former Gamecock basketball player Michael Boynton was a recipient of the post-graduate scholarship last year.
The two were chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from SEC universities. Each will receive a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship, provided by the SEC.
“The Southeastern Conference is proud to honor the achievements of Jordan and Holly and the services they have provided in their campus communities,” said Slive. “Jordan and Holly have helped others and made their communities a better place to live through their community service actions. They are fine representatives of their families, their institutions, the Southeastern Conference and intercollegiate athletics.”
Hodges is in her fourth season as a Lady Gamecock diver. During the 2004-05 season, she recorded the third highest score on the three-meter and fourth highest score on the one-meter on squad. She was also a co-captain of the Lady Gamecocks as a senior.
The Indianapolis, Ind. native, was a member of the U.S National Diving Team and an NCAA All-American in 2002. She placed second on the three-meter at the SEC Championships in 2002 as well. After sitting out 2003 with an injury, she returned to the squad in 2004 and earned a spot in the NCAA Championships, placing 17th on the one-meter board.
A member of USC’s President’s List for seven semesters, earning a 4.0 grade point average, she is a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Academic All-America Team. Hodges was the recipient of the USC Golden Key International Honor Society Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in 2002.
In the community, Hodges has been active, volunteering with Special Olympics, the Animal Protection League of South Carolina, and the Junior League of Columbia, S.C. She has been a volunteer with Adopt-A-Highway in South Carolina, visited children at local hospitals and schools. She has worked to repair homes of the elderly in the Columbia area and organized efforts for military family care packages.
The daughter of Jerry and Chelsea Hodges, has been a representative on Carolina’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has served as its Treasurer (2003-04) and President (2004-05). She is a member of the Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Society and the Carolina Student Alumni Association.
Faircloth is in his third season as a pitcher for the LSU Tigers. Last season, he appeared in a team-high 26 games (all in relief), posting a 3-3 mark and a 2.79 ERA in 58 innings with 13 walks and 41 strikeouts and also led the staff with four saves on the year. He allowed just a .231 cumulative batting average versus right-handed hitters. In 2003, he posted a 4.63 ERA in 11.2 relief innings (eight appearances/no decisions), allowing six runs on 12 hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
A member of the 2004 SEC Academic Honor Roll, Faircloth has been a five-time member of the Dean’s List and was the recipient of the Director’s Cup at LSU, given to athletes for high academic performance. In 2003, he also earned LSU Scholar-Athlete of the Week mention.
In the community, the Alexandria, La. native, has been active in the LSU CHAMPS Program (Challenging Athletic Minds for Personal Success). He has been a volunteer speaker to children at local schools, as well assisting at the St. Aloysius School Fair in Baton Rouge. He has served food at a homeless shelter and has been active in Habitat for Humanity, building homes for needy families.
The political science and business administration major, has also served as an umpire at little league games and teaching baseball at youth clinics. He has also been active in registering voters among LSU baseball players and been a tutor for teammates in political science, biology and English.
The son of James and Carrie Faircloth, is also a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Society, the College Republican Alliance, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Tiger Athletic Foundation Collegiate Club.
In addition, 10 other male and 11 other female recipients for the Community Service Award will receive a $2,000 scholarship, provided by the SEC.
The 10 other male recipients are: Allen Rice, Baseball, Alabama; Jeb Huckeba, Football, Arkansas; Carnell Williams, Football, Auburn; Stefan Pastor, Track & Field, Florida; Peter Osborn, Swimming & Diving, Georgia; Matt Wells, Golf, Kentucky; Claes Lindholm, Tennis, Ole Miss; Saunders Ramsey, Baseball, Mississippi State; Preston Thorne, Football, South Carolina; Robert Dinwiddie, Football, Vanderbilt.
The 11 other female recipients are: Katie Sipe, Basketball, Alabama; Julie Williford, Soccer, Arkansas; Jennifer Buckert, Volleyball, Auburn; Taylor Williams, Volleyball, Florida; Ashley Lindley, Soccer, Georgia; Lindsay Cameron, Gymnastics, Kentucky; Lauren Companioni, Gymnastics, LSU; Elizabeth Cansdale, Women’s Basketball, Ole Miss; Kia James, Track & Field, Mississippi State; Kaitlin Bargreen, Rowing, Tennessee; Margaret Spies, Lacrosse, Vanderbilt;
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship was first presented in 1996. Past recipients include: 2004 – Michael Boynton, South Carolina (basketball) and Virginia Pate, Georgia (swimming & diving); 2003 – Brett Kirouac, Georgia (football) and Kara Lawson, Tennessee (basketball); 2002 – Eric vanGoethem, Auburn (swimming) and Andree’ Pickens, Alabama (gymnastics); 2001 – Lance Jones, Ole Miss (basebal) and Gabby Fuchs, Florida (gymnastics); 2000 – Brett Millican, Georgia (football) and Brooke Riley, Ole Miss (soccer); 1999 – BJ McKie, South Carolina (basketball) and Carrie Kuhnell, Kentucky (soccer); 1998 – Walker Jones, Ole Miss (football) and Nicole Lees, Alabama (soccer); 1997 – Tim Lanier, LSU (baseball) and Andrea Bullock, Vanderbilt (golf); 1996 – Tony Johnson, Alabama (football) and Erin Tenbrunsel, Alabama (volleyball).
