April 4, 2008

Birmingham, Ala. – University of South Carolina football player William Brown and Vanderbilt University lacrosse player Brooke Shinaberry have been named recipients of the 2007-2008 Brad Davis Southeastern Conference Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Friday.

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 William and Brooke and the services they have provided in their campus communities,” said Slive. “They have helped others and made their communities a better place to live through their community service efforts. William and Brooke are fine representatives of their families, their institutions, the Southeastern Conference and intercollegiate athletics.”

The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship was 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.

Brown is a four-year letter winner and started seven games at guard as a sophomore and junior before starting 12 games at center as a senior for the Gamecocks. He was selected a team captain following the 2007 season. He was a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and USC’s Dean’s List.

The Boonville, N.C., native was a member of the 2006 SEC and American Football Coaches Association Good Works Teams. He has been nominated for the Danny Wuerffel Community Service and the FCA Bobby Bowden Awards.

He has taken leadership roles on campus as well as in the SEC and nationally. He was a participant in the NCAA Gender Equity Forum and NCAA Student-Athlete Development Conference and has been a member of the SEC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years. He is the SEC representative to the Division I National SAAC and a member of the NCAA Football Issues Committee and a participant in the USC Leadership Conference.

Brown has volunteered his time speaking to youth at schools and churches, and participating in camps. He has done charitable work with the Salvation Army, DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and visiting with injured soldiers at Fort Jackson.

The son of Spencer and Connie Brown, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing/Management in May 2007 and is working on his graduate degree in Sport & Entertainment Management.

Shinaberry is in her fourth season with the Commodores, having started for three seasons as a goalkeeper. She is a member of the U.S. National Women’s Lacrosse Developmental Team and was the Vanderbilt Comeback Player of the Year in 2005-06 after sitting out a season due to injury.

The Millersville (MD) native, has made the SEC Academic Honor Roll four times, the American Lacrosse Conference Academic Honor Roll four times and the Dean’s List twice. She is a member of the National Scholar’s Honor Society and Kappa Delta Epsilon honor fraternity.

Shinaberry has also been a member of the Vanderbilt Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She has served as an undergraduate research assistant to Dr. Robin McWilliams at Vanderbilt and was a 2007 nominee for the Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award.

In the community, Shinaberry has volunteered at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, the Nashville League for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Upendo Children’s Home, the Women’s Trust Fund and the Rolling Hills Youth Ministry. She has interacted with children at camps, dances and afterschool programs.

The daughter of Henry and Vicki Shinaberry, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in both Anthropology and Human and Organizational Development in May, 2007 and is currently working on her Master’s of Education Degree in International Education Policy and Management.

In addition, 22 other male and female recipients of the Brad Davis SEC Community Service Award will receive a $2,000 scholarship, provided by the SEC.

The 11 other male recipients are: Stewart Whitt, Golf, Alabama; Thomas Austell, Track & Field, Arkansas; Jay Moseley, Golf, Auburn; Robert Fischetti, Swimming & Diving, Florida; Christopher Gaunder, Football, Georgia; Wesley Woodyard, Football, Kentucky; Garrett Runion, Golf, LSU; James Maloney, Track & Field, Ole Miss; Andrew Wilson, Baseball, Mississippi State; Jordan Howell, Basketball, Tennessee; Alex Feinberg, Baseball, Vanderbilt.

The 11 other female recipients are: Megan Hudson, Volleyball, Alabama; Emily Peacock, Gymnastics, Arkansas; Summer Ragsdale, Soccer, Auburn; Angela McGinnis, Volleyball, Florida; Rebecca Rowsey, Basketball, Georgia; Crissy Cannon, Gymnastics, Kentucky; Alexis Rather, Golf, LSU; Carmia Carroll, Track & Field, Ole Miss; Hayle Guess, Softball, Mississippi State; Kimberly Gillespie, Soccer, South Carolina; Megan Rhodes, Softball, Tennessee.

The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship was first presented in 1996. Past recipients include: 2007 – Brad Boswell, Tennessee (swimming & diving) and Stacey Stevens, Florida (softball); 2006 – Antoine Huffman, Kentucky (football) and Hannah McLeod, Arkansas (gymnastics); 2005 – Jordan Fairclotch, LSU (baseball) and Holly Hodges, South Carolina (diving); 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 (baseball) 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).