Southern Conference announces graduate scholars

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its 10 postgraduate scholarship recipients for the 2024-25 academic year on Thursday.

This year’s honorees include: Richard Johnson Scholarship recipient Maggie Jackson (Wofford); Dave Hart Scholarship recipient John Davis (Western Carolina); Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship recipients James Boynewicz (VMI) and Gracie Lynn Butler (Samford); Dorothy Hicks Scholarship recipient Kirsten Hahn (Western Carolina); and Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship recipients Jenna Forster and Abbey Thomas (ETSU), Courtney Novotny (VMI), Ali Ruffin (The Citadel) and Kate Morgan (Samford).

The recipients are nominated by their schools and selected by the Southern Conference Graduate Scholar Committee. The scholarships, worth $2,000 each, are awarded to student-athletes who intend to pursue advanced degrees in graduate or professional school. The student-athletes are evaluated on academics, athletics and community service.

Maggie Jackson, Wofford – Richard Johnson Scholarship

Wofford’s Maggie Jackson is the recipient of the 2025 Richard Johnson Scholarship. A four-year member of the Terriers’ women’s golf team, Jackson played 113 rounds in her career. The Tallulah Falls, Georgia, native finished in the top 10 in five events, with her best showing coming at the Grandover Fall Classic in September 2022 where she finished tied for third. Jackson was named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll and Wofford Dean’s List each year she has been on campus. She has been a peer tutor for two hours a week since she stepped on campus in 2021. In the 2022-23 school year, Jackson was a group leader in the Reformed University Fellowship (RUF). Her community work in the FCA and on the orientation staff at Wofford also began in 2022. This summer, Jackson will begin pursuing a master’s degree in architecture.

John Davis, Western Carolina – Dave Hart Scholarship

Western Carolina's John Davis is the 2025 Dave Hart Scholarship winner. The product of Columbia, South Carolina, has competed in cross country and track & field for Western Carolina since 2021. At the 2023 SoCon Outdoor Track & Field Championship, Davis was all-conference in the 800m and the SoCon Champion in the 1500m, becoming the first Catamount to win the event since 2006. Earlier this year, he set a school indoor record in the 1,000m at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational on Feb. 15. The electrical engineering major has been on the chancellor’s list and dean’s list each of his years in Cullowhee. Davis received five different academic scholarships during his college career and was named a Chick-Fil-A Remarkable Future Scholar for the 2021-22 school year. During this school year, he received the National Science Foundation Award and the Cass Ballenger Endowment Grant. In the fall, Davis will begin work on a master’s in biomedical engineering.

James Boynewicz, VMI – Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship

VMI lacrosse player James Boynewicz is one of two recipients of a Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship. Boynewicz, a biology major and chemistry minor, was the Keydets’ captain on the men’s lacrosse squad this season. He is currently fourth all-time on the program’s caused turnovers list. His impact on the field began during his freshman season as he was named one of Lacrosse Bucket’s most outstanding freshmen. In 2023, the Virginia Beach, Virginia, native began volunteering at the local hospital, logging over 75 hours of service. Boynewicz has also served as the president of the Tri Beta Biological Honor Society. His recognitions on campus from the biology department include winning the Paul R. Meyer Award in 2022 and the John Randolph Tucker Carmichael Award in 2023. Last year, he won the award as the top cadet in biology. Boynewicz plans to begin PA school in 2026.

Gracie Lynn Butler, Samford – Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship

Samford volleyball player Gracie Lynn Butler is one of two recipients of a Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship in 2025. A three-year starter for the Bulldogs, Butler was a first-team All-SoCon selection the last two seasons and made the all-tournament three times from 2022-24. Along with her teammates, the senior has volunteered with Bundles of Hope helping distribute diapers in the community. Since 2022, the native of Hazel Green, Alabama, has been the volleyball team’s representative in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a small group leader for high school girls with Discipline Now Weekends and assisted with Grace Klein Community. Butler, who is enrolled in Samford’s Honors College, has been on the Dean’s List each year on campus. The double major in Management and Entrepreneurship will begin her MBA in August.

Kirsten Hahn, Western Carolina – Dorothy Hicks Scholarship

Western Carolina forward Kirsten Hahn is the 2025 Dorothy Hicks Scholarship recipient. The three-year Catamount captain has been on the women’s soccer team for four seasons. This past season, Hahn achieved the program’s fifth hat trick during the team’s home opener against UNC Asheville on Aug. 18, 2024, which led to her being named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week. The product of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, has been a SAAC representative since 2021, serving as co-president during this school year. Hahn’s volunteering has included tutoring in Animal Physiology, reading to school children and being a volunteer vet assistant. A member of the Western Carolina Dean’s List for four years, Hahn has been published three times, including a 2021 spot in The Asheville Citizen-Times. Hahn, a biology major, will begin her journey toward a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Ontario Veterinary College in the fall.

Jenna Forster, ETSU – Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship 

ETSU’s Jenna Forster is a recipient of the 2025 Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship. Forster competed for five seasons on the Bucs volleyball team, earning a spot on the SoCon all-freshman team in 2020-21. She helped lead the Buccaneers to a regular season title in 2022 and was a preseason all-conference pick in 2024. During her time in Johnson City, the native of Maryville, Tennessee, has been a volunteer coach, handed out candy during Halloween and a program assistant with Christmas Wishes. Forster has been a member of the dean’s list each of her semesters on campus and was named to the SoCon Academic All-Conference Team on three occasions. Forster, who graduated cum laude in 2024, is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Applied Health at ETSU.

Abbey Thomas, ETSU – Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship

ETSU middle blocker Abbey Thomas is a recipient of a 2025 Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship. The Goldsboro, North Carolina, native has appeared in over 100 matches for the Bucs. In 2024, Thomas was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week twice and was a second-team all-conference selection. Off the court, Thomas has volunteered with Bucky’s Boo Bash, the Washington County Johnson City Animal Shelter and University High School. A member of the dean’s list each year on campus, Thomas will return to ETSU to begin the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in January 2026.

Courtney Novotny, VMI – Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship

VMI’s Courtney Novotny is a recipient of the 2025 Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship. She is a member of the Keydets’ water polo squad, where she was named team MVP for the 2023-24 season. Novotny was named all-conference for each of the last two seasons and won the Three-Legged Stool Award, a VMI Institute Award, this year. The water polo team captain was a SAAC representative during the 2023-24 school year and has been a cadet worker in the school library since 2023. The product of Reading, Pennsylvania, has been named to the dean’s list seven times and received the Peay Full-Merit Scholarship. In the fall, Novotny will begin the Physician’s Assistant master’s program at Radford.

Ali Ruffin, The Citadel – Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship

The Citadel's Ali Ruffin is a recipient of the 2025 Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship. The Greenville, North Carolina, native competed on the Bulldogs’ track & field and volleyball teams. In track & field, Ruffin was the 2024 SoCon Champion in the javelin and has been named conference field athlete of the week three times during her career. On the volleyball court, Ruffin is one of the most decorated players in program history. In 2021, she won the Rayna Taylor Freshman of the Year award and was named to the all-tournament team after helping the squad become the first women’s sports to win a title in school history. Ruffin was named first-team all-conference in 2022 and 2023, along with being the SoCon Player of the Year in 2023. The senior was also an AVCA All-American Honorable Mention selection and AVCA East Coast All-Region Honorable Mention following the 2023 season. Ruffin was a second-team pick and all-tournament team selection in 2024. Off the field and court, Ruffin has been on the dean’s list each year, in addition to being named a Chi Alpha Scholar and NCAA Division I All-Academic Athlete in 2024. Over the last five years, Ruffin has assisted the Ronald McDonald House, volunteered at volleyball clinics, and been a dog walker for Pitt County Animal Service.

Kate Morgan, Samford – Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship

Samford’s Kate Morgan is a recipient of the 2025 Southern Conference Presidential Scholarship and has been a team captain for the last two seasons on the Samford volleyball team. In 2022, Morgan was the SoCon Libero of the Year and a second-team all-conference pick, helping the squad to a conference tournament title. In 2023, she was selected to the all-tournament team. Since 2021, the native of Waxahachie, Texas, has helped with Bundles of Hope, Waxahachie Care and Spooktacular, which raises money for children with cancer. Morgan has also assisted at the Cahaba Valley Dental Clinic and did volleyball clinics in Brazil in 2024. The Samford dean's list and Academic All-SoCon member each of the last three years plans to begin work at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry in the fall.