March 29, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Rebel tennis players Marcel Thiemann and Gabby Rangel have been nominated for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship and football player Devin Thomas and softball player Amanda Hutcheson have been nominated for the Brad Davis Community Service Postgraduate Scholarship by the University of Mississippi.

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

The SEC Community Service Postgraduate 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.

The Southeastern Conference will name the 2012 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship on April 6 in conjunction with National Student-Athlete Day.  The Davis Community Service Postgraduate Scholarship winners will be announced on April 5.
Highlights of the Rebels’ nominees include:

Marcel Thiemann, Tennis (Male McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Nominee)
•    Will earn a B.B.A. degree in Managerial Finance in May 2012
•    Two-time All-American and NCAA singles quarterfinalist, 2010-11
•    Two-time first-team All-SEC
•    Two-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete
•    2012 SEC Indoor doubles champion
•    Member of SEC Academic Honor Roll, Chancellor’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List and UMAA Honor Roll
•    Member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars
•    Named to Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities
•    Volunteer with Special Olympics and has served as a tutor at an Oxford area high school
•    The Lehrte, Germany native is the son of Martin and Angelika Thiemann

Gabby Rangel, Tennis (Female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Nominee)
•    Will earn B.A. degree in International Studies and Economics in May 2012
•    Three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete
•    Member, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities
•    Member of Chancellor’s Honor Roll and SEC Academic Honor Roll
•    Four-year starter and two-year team captain (2011-12)
•    Vice-President, Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
•    Ranked as high as third in the Southern Region NCAA doubles during career
•    Active in “Reading with the Rebels”, going to local elementary schools and interacting with students
•    Collected and sent shoes to Kenya as part of “Rebel Reruns”
•    Member of SEC Tennis Community Service Team, 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons
•    Named to Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities
•    Active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and member of Delta Delta Delta sorority
•    The Hendersonville, Tenn. native is the daughter of Antonio and Anna Rangel

Devin Thomas, Football (Male Davis Community Service Nominee)
•    Will earn a B.S. degree in Geology in December 2012
•    Visited with children at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and read at local elementary schools as part of “Reading with the Rebels”
•    Took part in toy drive for Toys for Tots
•    Active in the SEC’s “Together We Can” food drive
•    National Society of Collegiate Scholars
•    Member of Alpha Lambda Delta and Gamma Beta Phi honor societies
•    Chancellor’s Honor Roll, UMAA Honor Roll, Dean’s List and SEC Academic Honor Roll
•    Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
•    Member of Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Student-Athlete Welfare Committee
•    Three-year letter winner and recipient of 2009 Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for Most Improved Offensive Player in Spring
•    The San Antonio, Texas native is the son of Willie Thomas

Amanda Hutcheson, Softball (Female Davis Community Service Nominee)
•    Will earn a B.S. degree in Exercise Science in May 2012
•    Collected and sent shoes to Kenya as part of “Rebel Reruns”
•    Participated in the SEC’s “Together We Can” food drive
•    Visited local elementary schools as part of “Reading with the Rebels”
•    Visited children at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
•    Organized “Kids Take Over the Park Day,” a free children’s camp to benefit St. Jude’s Hospital
•    National Fastpitch Coaches Association Scholar-Athlete
•    Member of Chancellor’s Honor Roll, UMAA Honor Roll and SEC Academic Honor Roll
•    Four-year letter winner and two-time team captain
•    Member of SEC Softball Community Service Team, 2011
•    Serves as historian for Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
•    The Loganville, Ga. native is the daughter of Scott and B.J. Hutcheson