South Carolina nominees for McWhorter post-graduate scholarships announced
The University of South Carolina has nominated two exemplary student-athletes for the prestigious H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship: football punter Kai Kroeger and women’s tennis standout Ayana Akli. This recognition highlights their exceptional academic achievements, athletic prowess, and leadership within the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
🏈 Kai Kroeger โ Football
**Major:**๎Histor๎๎
Academic & Athletic Highlights:
SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll (2021โ2023๎ -๎Presidentโs Outstanding Student-Athlete Award (2023๎ -๎SEC Football Leadership Council Representative (2023๎ -๎Four-Year Starting Punter*๎ -๎Averaged 43.9 yards per punt, ranking second in school histor๎ -๎First-Team All-American** (2022๎ -๎First-Team All-SEC (2022๎ -๎Jim Carlen Award (MVP Special Teams) (2022๎ -๎SEC Coachesโ All-Freshman Team (2020๎๎ ๎Kroeger’s academic excellence is evident through his consistent placement on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and his leadership roles, including his representation on the SEC Football Leadership Council๎๎His athletic achievements further underscore his dedication and skill in the sport๎๎
🎾 Ayana Akli โ Women’s Tennis
*Major: ๎Civil Engineerig๎๎
Academic & Athletic Highlights:
๎SEC Womenโs Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year (202)๎ ๎ITA Scholar-Athlete (202)๎ ๎CSC Academic All-District (202)๎ ๎Two-Time SEC Academic Honor Roll (2022, 202)๎ ๎Over 120 career singles wins and nearly 90 career doubles wins*๎ ๎NCAA Singles and Doubles Tournament Quarterfinalist** (202)๎ ๎ITA Fall National Runner-Up (202)๎ ๎Ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation in singles and No. 10 in doubles (202)๎ ๎ITA Singles All-American (202)๎ ๎ITA Doubles All-American (202)๎ ๎Three-Time NCAA Singles Tournament Qualifier (2021โ202)๎ ๎Two-Time SEC All-SEC First Team (2022, 202)๎ ๎Two-Time All-Big Ten Team and Big Ten Freshman of the Year*๎ ๎Academic All-Big Ten*๎ ๎Two-Time SEC Community Service Team (2023, 202)๎๎ ๎Akli’s academic excellence is matched by her remarkable achievements on the tennis cour. ๎Her leadership and commitment to both academics and athletics make her a standout nominee for this prestigious scholarshi.
Established in 1986, the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship is awarded annually by the SEC to the leagueโs top male and female scholar-athletes .The recipients receive a $20,000 post-graduate scholarship, while the remaining finalists are awarded $10,000 eachThe winners are selected by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 14 SEC institutions and are honored at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida.
- Announcement of Recipients Late April 2025
- SEC Spring Meetings May 2025, Destin, Floida
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๎The nominations of Kai Kroeger and Ayana Akli reflect the University of South Carolina’s commitment to fostering excellence in both academics and athletc. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to fellow student-athletes and exemplify the values of dedication, leadership, and integrty.
