Lauren Imwalle Awarded H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship
4/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
 |
|
University of Alabama soccer player Lauren Imwalle has been named the 2003-04 Southeastern Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and winner of the H. Boyd McWhorter Southeastern Conference Scholarship, SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced Tuesday. The awards will be formally presented to Imwalle and the men’s winner, Auburn diver Caesar Garcia at the annual Awards Banquet at the league's spring meeting in Destin, Fla. on June 3.
Imwalle was chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from SEC universities. She will receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, provided by ALLTEL.
"The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award is the highest honor a student-athlete can receive in the Southeastern Conference," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. "Throughout their intercollegiate athletic and academic careers, Lauren and Caesar have displayed dedication and commitment that has made them excellent selections for the McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award. They have been leaders on campus, in their communities and on their sports squads and have been tremendous representatives for their institutions, the Southeastern Conference and the ideals of intercollegiate athletics."
Imwalle becomes the fifth Alabama athlete to win the award and the second consecutive Crimson Tide athlete to be honored. Bama gymnast Kristin Sterner was the 2003 female recipient.
A senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, Imwalle majors in Biology with a minor in Spanish. She was a 2003 second-team All-SEC selection as a defender. She was second on the team in minutes played with 1,542.
"This is one of the most prestigious honors bestowed on an SEC athlete and I'm extremely proud of Lauren's scholarship and athleticism," Alabama soccer coach Don Staley said. "Lauren has been a leader in the classroom and the community for us during her four year career and she has left her mark as a student-athlete within our program.”
A three-year starter, Imwalle was also a member of the 2002 SEC Good Works Team and a two-time Defensive MVP of the Crimson Tide.
Academically, she is a member of the school's Dean's List and has earned a Presidential Scholarship. Imwalle is a Phi Betta Kappa, a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, and a two-time member of the CoSIDA Academic All-District squad.
She also serves as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board at Alabama, helping to coordinate community service projects such as Project Angel Tree, clinics, public appearances, fundraisers, special events and banquets. She has spoken at local elementary schools and soccer clinics.
"It's an honor to be recognized along with all the other nominees, and then to win the award is even more amazing,” Imwalle said. “I'm grateful to the SEC and The University of Alabama for recognizing me with this prestigious honor. I'm extremely grateful for everybody in The University of Alabama Academic Center and in the athletic department that helped me get where I am today."
The daughter of Paul and Stefani Imwalle, Lauren has been accepted at the University of Cincinnati's School of Medicine.
University of Alabama H. Boyd McWhorter Postgraduate Scholarship Winners
2004 – Lauren Imwalle (Soccer)
2003 – Kristin Sterner (Gymnastics)
1997 – Meredith Willard (Gymnastics)
1992 – Jeff Laubenthal (Baseball)
1987 – Julie Estin (Gymnastics)
