Eagle Football Alumni Association Presents Inaugural Tom “Doc” Smith and Roger Inman Scholarships
10/3/2013 11:57:00 AM | Football, Athletic Foundation, Sports Medicine
Erik Sanders and Jaycob Ragland selected to receive $1,500 scholarships
STATESBORO, Ga. -- The Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA), representing former Georgia Southern Football student-athletes, athletic trainers, managers, and coaches, awarded two inaugural scholarships, one each to a deserving student athletic trainer and student manager. Darryl Hopkins, president of the EFAA, and David Beaubien, president of the Eagle Fund, last week presented the scholarships to Erik Sanders, a graduate assistant in athletic training, and Jaycob Ragland, a student manager in the equipment room. Each scholarship is in the amount of $1,500 and may be used for tuition, books or expenses.
Established in the name of longtime head athletic trainer Tom "Doc" Smith, the athletic training scholarship is awarded to the student athletic trainer selected by the Director of Sports Medicine Brandy Clouse and her staff for their diligence, dedication and servant-minded approach to treating the student-athletes in their care. Embodying the spirit of Georgia Southern Football, Smith was a father figure to many Eagles and a "trusted healer, counselor, mentor and friend." From Massillon, Ohio, Sanders earned his undergraduate degree from Cedarville University in Ohio. He currently works with the Georgia Southern Volleyball program after spending his first year with the Eagle Men's Soccer team.
"Erik was chosen for this scholarship because he is a great team player who is always willing to do whatever needs to be done," said Georgia Southern Athletics Director of Sports Medicine Brandy Clouse. "In the same manner of Doc Smith, Erik always puts the best interests of the student-athletes first."
The Roger Inman Scholarship pays tribute to the "common thread" of so many Eagle Football alumni. Inman, who has served Georgia Southern in numerous roles over the last 35 years, was considered to be the "Do It All Man," by Coach Erk Russell. During his tenure, which began at nearly the same time as the Georgia Southern Football program, Inman handled everything from equipment to transportation with "no job too minor or too grand." Ragland, in his second year as a member of the student manager staff, is a sophomore sport management major from Colbert, Ga.
"Jaycob has demonstrated such dedication to Eagle Football and he has gone over, above and beyond the normal duties of our student staff," said Stewart Carter, Georgia Southern equipment manager.
Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive the Tom "Doc" Smith and Roger Inman Scholarships with plans to present the awards annually.
The Eagle Football Alumni Association is a dues-paying organization of former Georgia Southern University football players, managers, athletic trainers, coaches and other individuals who dedicated their efforts to the program who lend their support to build championship teams and assist those who have made a contribution to Eagle Football in the past. For more information on how to become a member of the EFAA and to receive information on upcoming EFAA events, contact Justin Callaway at 912-478-5520 or jcallaway@georgiasouthern.edu or visit ringsanddiplomas.com/36.
Established in the name of longtime head athletic trainer Tom "Doc" Smith, the athletic training scholarship is awarded to the student athletic trainer selected by the Director of Sports Medicine Brandy Clouse and her staff for their diligence, dedication and servant-minded approach to treating the student-athletes in their care. Embodying the spirit of Georgia Southern Football, Smith was a father figure to many Eagles and a "trusted healer, counselor, mentor and friend." From Massillon, Ohio, Sanders earned his undergraduate degree from Cedarville University in Ohio. He currently works with the Georgia Southern Volleyball program after spending his first year with the Eagle Men's Soccer team.
"Erik was chosen for this scholarship because he is a great team player who is always willing to do whatever needs to be done," said Georgia Southern Athletics Director of Sports Medicine Brandy Clouse. "In the same manner of Doc Smith, Erik always puts the best interests of the student-athletes first."
The Roger Inman Scholarship pays tribute to the "common thread" of so many Eagle Football alumni. Inman, who has served Georgia Southern in numerous roles over the last 35 years, was considered to be the "Do It All Man," by Coach Erk Russell. During his tenure, which began at nearly the same time as the Georgia Southern Football program, Inman handled everything from equipment to transportation with "no job too minor or too grand." Ragland, in his second year as a member of the student manager staff, is a sophomore sport management major from Colbert, Ga.
"Jaycob has demonstrated such dedication to Eagle Football and he has gone over, above and beyond the normal duties of our student staff," said Stewart Carter, Georgia Southern equipment manager.
Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive the Tom "Doc" Smith and Roger Inman Scholarships with plans to present the awards annually.
The Eagle Football Alumni Association is a dues-paying organization of former Georgia Southern University football players, managers, athletic trainers, coaches and other individuals who dedicated their efforts to the program who lend their support to build championship teams and assist those who have made a contribution to Eagle Football in the past. For more information on how to become a member of the EFAA and to receive information on upcoming EFAA events, contact Justin Callaway at 912-478-5520 or jcallaway@georgiasouthern.edu or visit ringsanddiplomas.com/36.
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