Grace McLaughlin (far right) has been a counselor at the Florida Diabetes Camp the last three summers. For her many community service contributions, McLauglin receives a $10,000 post graduate scholarship as one of two Brad Davis Community Service Award winners.
Grace McLaughlin Receives Brad Davis Community Service Award
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 | Gymnastics
McLaughlin receives $10,000 post-graduate as one of two Brad Davis Community Service Award winners
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – She's contributed more than 670 community service hours during her Gator gymnastics career. Those many hours of helping others makes University of Florida's Grace McLaughlin one of two 2017-18 Brad Davis Southeastern Conference Community Service Leaders of the Year, Commissioner Greg Sankey announced Wednesday.
As the SEC Community Service Leader of the Year, McLaughlin and Auburn University track & field athlete Wesley Curles receive $10,000 postgraduate scholarships, provided by the SEC.
"Grace McLaughlin and Wesley Curles epitomize the spirit of the SEC's commitment to service and they prove through their work in their communities that the young people of our conference really do have the ability to change the world in which they live," said Sankey. "Grace and Wesley are outstanding representatives of their respective institutions and the many student-athletes in the SEC who have chosen to make their world a better place."
In the 23-year history of the award, McLaughlin is the fourth Gator recipient and first since basketball player Patric Young claimed the 2014 scholarship.
Each SEC program nominates two student-athletes for the Brad Davis Community Service Award. As a nominee, Gator football player Johnny Townsend receives a $5,000 scholarship, provided by the SEC.
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship is 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.
"From the beginning, I knew that I would dedicate myself to helping the lives of others through either education or medicine," McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin started her extensive list of Goodwill Gator activities 12 days after starting freshman classes. Here's a look at her many contributions:
Grace McLaughlin, Gymnastics, Florida
Major: Family, Youth and Community Sciences
Past SEC Brad Davis Leaders of the Year include:
1996 - Tony Johnson, Alabama (football) and Erin Tenbrunsel, Alabama (volleyball)
1997 - Tim Lanier, LSU (baseball) and Andrea Bullock, Vanderbilt (golf)
1998 - Walker Jones, Ole Miss (football) and Nicole Lees, Alabama (soccer)
1999 - BJ McKie, South Carolina (basketball) and Carrie Kuhnell, Kentucky (soccer)
2000 - Brett Millican, Georgia (football) and Brooke Riley, Ole Miss (soccer)
2001 - Lance Jones, Ole Miss (baseball) and Gabby Fuchs, Florida (gymnastics)
2002 - Eric vanGoethem, Auburn (swimming) and Andree' Pickens, Alabama (gymnastics)
2003 - Brett Kirouac, Georgia (football) and Kara Lawson, Tennessee (basketball)
2004 – Michael Boynton, South Carolina (basketball) and Virginia Pate, Georgia (swimming & diving)
2005 – Jordan Fairclotch, LSU (baseball) and Holly Hodges, South Carolina (diving)
2006 – Antoine Huffman, Kentucky (football) and Hannah McLeod, Arkansas (gymnastics)
2007 – Brad Boswell, Tennessee (swimming) and Stacey Stevens, Florida (softball)
2008 – William Brown, South Carolina (football) and Brooke Shinaberry, Vanderbilt (lacrosse)
2009 – Andrew Smith, Auburn (basketball) and Brionna Dickerson, South Carolina (basketball)
2010 – John Egan, Georgia (track and field) and Krissy Voss, Auburn (gymnastics)
2011 – Barnabus Kirui, Ole Miss (track and field) and Bridget Lyons, Georgia (track and field)
2012 – Cullen Doody, LSU (track and field) and Leigh Gilmore, Alabama (track and field)
2013 – Joseph Hladik, Missouri (swimming & diving) and Megan Moir, Kentucky (golf)
2014 – Patric Young, Florida (basketball) and Mackenie McGill, Missouri (gymnastics)
2015 – Chris Conley, Georgia (football) and Grace Trimble, Kentucky (tennis)
2016 – Wade Karam, Texas A&M (track) and Lauren Beers, Alabama (gymnastics)
2017 – Eric Freeman, Tennessee (baseball) and Maya Evans, South Carolina (track & field)
2018 – Grace McLaughlin, Florida (gymnastics) and Wesley Curles, Auburn (track & field)
As the SEC Community Service Leader of the Year, McLaughlin and Auburn University track & field athlete Wesley Curles receive $10,000 postgraduate scholarships, provided by the SEC.
"Grace McLaughlin and Wesley Curles epitomize the spirit of the SEC's commitment to service and they prove through their work in their communities that the young people of our conference really do have the ability to change the world in which they live," said Sankey. "Grace and Wesley are outstanding representatives of their respective institutions and the many student-athletes in the SEC who have chosen to make their world a better place."
In the 23-year history of the award, McLaughlin is the fourth Gator recipient and first since basketball player Patric Young claimed the 2014 scholarship.
Each SEC program nominates two student-athletes for the Brad Davis Community Service Award. As a nominee, Gator football player Johnny Townsend receives a $5,000 scholarship, provided by the SEC.
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship is 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.
"From the beginning, I knew that I would dedicate myself to helping the lives of others through either education or medicine," McLaughlin said.
McLaughlin started her extensive list of Goodwill Gator activities 12 days after starting freshman classes. Here's a look at her many contributions:
Grace McLaughlin, Gymnastics, Florida
Major: Family, Youth and Community Sciences
- Has completed over 670 hours of community service during her time as a Florida student-athlete
- Community service activities include Florida Diabetes Camp, Dream Team, Reichert House, Kidlife, Caleb's Pitch, Littlewood Elementary, Baby Gators, Climb for Cancer
- Over 450 hours at Florida Diabetes Camp, where she has volunteered for the last three years:
- Oversaw care of 12 different eleven-year-old campers with Type 1 diabetes
- Consulted with medical staff on decisions for all facets of campers' medical care
- Administered and provide emergency medical care for all campers 24/7
- Member of 2016-17 Community Service Team
- Recipient of the 2016-18 Presidential Service Award by the University of Florida
- 2015 National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches Scholastic All-America Team
- 2016-18 SEC Academic Honor Roll
- 2015 SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll
- Member of the Florida 2015 NCAA Championship and 2016 SEC Championship Teams
- Winner of 2015 UF Female Goodwill Gator Award
- 2016 and 2017 CommuniGator Award (team award)
Past SEC Brad Davis Leaders of the Year include:
1996 - Tony Johnson, Alabama (football) and Erin Tenbrunsel, Alabama (volleyball)
1997 - Tim Lanier, LSU (baseball) and Andrea Bullock, Vanderbilt (golf)
1998 - Walker Jones, Ole Miss (football) and Nicole Lees, Alabama (soccer)
1999 - BJ McKie, South Carolina (basketball) and Carrie Kuhnell, Kentucky (soccer)
2000 - Brett Millican, Georgia (football) and Brooke Riley, Ole Miss (soccer)
2001 - Lance Jones, Ole Miss (baseball) and Gabby Fuchs, Florida (gymnastics)
2002 - Eric vanGoethem, Auburn (swimming) and Andree' Pickens, Alabama (gymnastics)
2003 - Brett Kirouac, Georgia (football) and Kara Lawson, Tennessee (basketball)
2004 – Michael Boynton, South Carolina (basketball) and Virginia Pate, Georgia (swimming & diving)
2005 – Jordan Fairclotch, LSU (baseball) and Holly Hodges, South Carolina (diving)
2006 – Antoine Huffman, Kentucky (football) and Hannah McLeod, Arkansas (gymnastics)
2007 – Brad Boswell, Tennessee (swimming) and Stacey Stevens, Florida (softball)
2008 – William Brown, South Carolina (football) and Brooke Shinaberry, Vanderbilt (lacrosse)
2009 – Andrew Smith, Auburn (basketball) and Brionna Dickerson, South Carolina (basketball)
2010 – John Egan, Georgia (track and field) and Krissy Voss, Auburn (gymnastics)
2011 – Barnabus Kirui, Ole Miss (track and field) and Bridget Lyons, Georgia (track and field)
2012 – Cullen Doody, LSU (track and field) and Leigh Gilmore, Alabama (track and field)
2013 – Joseph Hladik, Missouri (swimming & diving) and Megan Moir, Kentucky (golf)
2014 – Patric Young, Florida (basketball) and Mackenie McGill, Missouri (gymnastics)
2015 – Chris Conley, Georgia (football) and Grace Trimble, Kentucky (tennis)
2016 – Wade Karam, Texas A&M (track) and Lauren Beers, Alabama (gymnastics)
2017 – Eric Freeman, Tennessee (baseball) and Maya Evans, South Carolina (track & field)
2018 – Grace McLaughlin, Florida (gymnastics) and Wesley Curles, Auburn (track & field)
Players Mentioned
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