EFAA Scholarship recipients Mary Beth Winningham (athletic training) and Taylor Smith (equipment), center, with EFAA board members John Richardson, Joey Cushing (left) and Isaac Ferrell and Mel McBride (right).
EFAA Scholarships Awarded to Winningham and Smith
12/23/2014 1:40:00 PM | Football, Athletic Foundation
Worthy students receive scholarships that honor Tom “Doc” Smith and Roger Inman
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STATESBORO, Ga. -- The Eagle Football Alumni Association (EFAA), representing former Georgia Southern Football student-athletes, athletic trainers, managers, and coaches, awarded two scholarships, one each to a deserving student athletic trainer and student manager. The scholarships were presented to Mary Beth Winningham, a first-year graduate assistant in athletic training, and Taylor Smith, a senior 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 Livingston, Tennessee, Winningham earned undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State. She currently works with the Eagle Cheerleading squads and selected Georgia Southern for her master's program because of the in-depth course offerings it offered in the athletic training curriculum.
"Doc Smith was a great, caring, passionate athletic trainer, so when we choose the person to receive the scholarship awarded by the EFAA, I try to pick someone that would be similar to what Doc would've been and who Doc would've liked," said Georgia Southern Athletics Director of Sports Medicine Brandy Clouse. "Mary Beth has been a prime example of what it takes to be a good athletic trainer. I am proud of her and what she has accomplished in her first year and look forward to how she will continues to grow as a young professional."
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."
Smith, from Elberton, Ga., learned about the possibility of working with Georgia Southern Athletics from former Eagle letterwinner Charlie Hopkins, who was the offensive line coach at Smith's high school. A four-year student manager with football, Smith has been "blessed to work for a wonderful University" and plans on continuing his career in athletic administration after graduating with a degree in sport management.
"Taylor worked incredibly hard not only for his position coach Kevin Peoples and the student-athletes in his group, but he's a team player who contributed wherever he could to make sure Georgia Southern Football equipment operations ran smoothly," said Director of Football Operations Shane Meyer. "Over the course of four years, he has always shown a positive attitude and exemplified hard work day in and day out."
Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive the Tom "Doc" Smith and Roger Inman Scholarships and this is the second year the scholarships have been awarded.
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.
Georgia Southern Athletics provides up-to-date information on all its sports through its official website, GSEagles.com, through social media channels facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics, iOS app Georgia Southern Eagles and Android app Eagles GATA.
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