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    Northcutt, Whitworth Named Auburn Nominees For McWhorter Post-Graduate Scholarship SEC winners will be named April 6.



    March 20, 2009

    BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Golfer Glenn Northcutt and soccer player Allison Whitworth have been nominated by Auburn University for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship.

    The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league's top male and female scholar-athletes.

    The Southeastern Conference will name the 2009 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship on April 6 in conjunction with National Student-Athlete Day.

    Northcutt, a senior from Dothan, Ala, has earned a 3.51 grade point average, majoring in Business Administration. He is a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll (2009 Spring Academic Honor Roll announced later in spring), a three-time Auburn University Academic Top Tiger, a member of the National College Athlete Honor Society and a Golf Coaches Association of America All-American Scholar.

    As a junior in 2007-08, Northcutt led all Tigers in scoring average as well as rounds counted, rounds at par or better and rounds in the 60s. He had the fifth lowest scoring average in the SEC and scored the lowest round carded by an SEC golfer. In 2008, he won the Alabama State Match-Play Championship. As a sophomore, he was named a second-team All-SEC performer.

    He has volunteered with the Salvation Army as a bell ringer and a food and gift distributor and has delivered food to needy families. He has read to children at local schools and has worked with children in conjunction with a golf program helping young kids.

    Whitworth, a senior from Birmingham, Ala., has earned a 3.88 grade point average, majoring in Psychology. She has garnered many academic honors including the SEC Academic Honor Roll (four times), SEC soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2008 and Auburn University Academic Top Tiger (four times).

    She is also a member of numerous honor societies including Phi Beta, Delta Epsilon Iota, Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, Cardinal Key, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the National College Athlete Honor Society.

     

     

    Athletically, she was a first-team All-SEC selection as a senior and a second-team All-SEC choice as a junior. A goalie, she established a school record with 356 saves. She is tied for 8th in SEC history in shutouts. She earned SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors in each of her last three seasons.

    Active in the Auburn community, she has volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, Read Across America, Auburn Food Bank and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund Walk. She has helped collect food and toiletries for Abused and Battered Women's Shelter and is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

    The SEC Office will be releasing each of its institution's nominees periodically until the April 6 winners are announced. The schedule is as follows:

    Alabama - Michael Jung, Tennis (Male) / Brittany Rogers, Softball (Female)

    Arkansas - Blake Strode, Tennis (Male) / Aurelija Miseviciute, Tennis (Female)

    Auburn - Glenn Northcutt, Golf (Male) / Allison Whitworth, Soccer (Female)

    Florida - March 23

    Georgia - March 24

    Kentucky - March 25

    LSU - March 26

    Ole Miss - March 27

    Miss. State - March 30

    South Carolina - March 31

    Tennessee - April 1

    Vanderbilt - April 2

    Brad Davis Community Service Award - April 3

    National Student-Athlete Day was created in 1987 by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) and Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society , and presented by the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

    National Student-Athlete Day is held each April 6 to celebrate outstanding student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics while having made significant contributions to the community. It is also a time to recognize those parents, teachers, coaches and school systems which make it possible for young people to find the balance between academics and athletics.

    Each year, the SEC, in conjunction with AT&T, an SEC Corporate Champion sponsor, provides the league's male and female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship recipients with a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship. The 22 remaining male and female finalists for the award will also receive a $5,000 post-graduate scholarship. The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 12 SEC institutions and are honored at the SEC Spring Meetings in Sandestin, Fla. on May 28.

    Last year's recipients were Alabama golfer Joseph Sykora and Auburn swimmer Kristen Hastrup.

    Glenn Northcutt Q&A

    1. What does being nominated for the McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award mean to you?

    It truly is an honor to be selected as Auburn's male nominee for the Boyd McWhorter. I never entertained the idea of receiving a scholarship to graduate school, as I feel I am one of those students who have more drive and determination than perhaps natural God given intelligence. I will say, however, that I always strive for excellence in everything I do, whether it is athletic or academic.

    2. What are you favorite classes and why?

    My favorite classes at Auburn have been psychology and marketing. Studying the psychology of the mind in connection with golf is fascinating. Also, marketing, which is grounded in psychology, operates on the ability to persuade and is equally interesting.

    3. What does it mean to compete as a student-athlete of your institution?

    To compete as a student athlete at Auburn has been a dream of my lifetime. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to play college golf. Traveling to new places, making friendships, having the opportunities to compete and play awesome golf courses--all of these have enriched my college experience and, hopefully, will pave the way for my future.

    4. What would you tell an incoming student at your institution on how to succeed in college?

    I would give the following advice to an incoming student: 1. Don't be overwhelmed by the amount of work and change that you initially will be encountering. 2. Use your time wisely--organize, study, and plan. 3. If you get in trouble academically, immediately find a tutor. 4. Maintain your focus, set priorities, and goals, and don't be discouraged if things are difficult. 5. Find a good support system, friends who encourage you to do well, and a church family.

    5. What is the best part of the day?

    The best part of my day is when I am out on the golf course. This is where I strive for perfection each and every day. Golf is the passion of my life.

    6. Plans for post-graduate education?

    My post graduate plans include two different courses of action. First of all, I hope to try professional golf. If this doesn't work out, I will continue my education by pursuing a graduate degree in business.

    Allison Whitworth Q&A

    1 - What does being nominated for the McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award mean to you?

    This nomination encourages me that each institution in the SEC values the education they give their students and student-athletes. I'm very thankful for the opportunity that Auburn has given me to be a student, an athlete, and a representative of the Auburn Family.

    2 - What are your favorite classes and why?

    One of my favorite classes is Exercise Physiology. I enjoy this class because what we learn about how the body works applies to my daily life as an athlete. For example, learning about different energy systems and how the body is fueled helps me know how to train to achieve my specific goals within my sport. Another class that I enjoy is Exercise Prescription where we learn how to tell different populations the best way to exercise for their specific limitations. A few of the conditions we created exercise plans for were high blood pressure, diabetes, and pregnancy. These skills will be beneficial for a career in the athletic industry, health industry, and also in my personal life.

    3 - What does it mean to compete as a student-athlete of your institution? Being an Auburn Tiger on the field has been one of the best experiences of my life. The gift to play the sport I love with my teammates is it's own reward. Knowing that I will always be a part of the Auburn Family that has supported me during my career gives me the ability to perform at the highest level I can in everything I do.

    4 - What would you tell an incoming student at your institution on how to succeed in college? Success in college depends on discipline and time management. A student or student-athlete that knows how to plan their day to include class, study time, exercise, fun, eating and sleeping, and the discipline to carry out that plan will not only do well in school, but also have a healthy life, socially, mentally, and physically. Remember, you ARE supposed to have some fun!

    5 - What's the best part of the day?

    The best part of the day is getting home at the end of the day when I finally sit down and relax knowing that I've done my best for today regardless of how my efforts were received by others.

    6 - Plans for post-graduate education?

    I plan to complete a master's degree in Health Promotion that I can use in any fitness arena. This degree will prepare me with the knowledge of fitness, health, and conditioning that I will use in coaching to impact developing athletes.

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