The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Student-Athletes Initiated Into Phi Kappa Phi; Two Receive Taylor Medals
April 1, 2004
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss student-athletes Leigh Barrow of the women's soccer team, David Donaldson, of the men's tennis team and David Shields, of the men's golf team, and former volleyball player Abby Hollander were among the 2003 initiates into Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society. The four were inducted in ceremonies held on the University of Mississippi campus Thursday afternoon.
In addition, Chad Pilcher a two-sport letterwinner in football and baseball, and former softball player, Lindsay Price, received the prestigious Taylor Medals in ceremonies held Thursday night at the Ford Center.
"College athletics is supposed to be about excelling in the classroom as well as on the playing field," Senior Associate Athletics Director Lynnette Johnson said. "We are proud of these student-athletes for achieving one of the highest academic honors at our university. This reflects upon their hard work and dedication."
Chartered in 1959, Phi Kappa Phi is one of the University's highest academic societies recognizing scholarship in all academic disciplines. The society recognizes juniors, seniors and graduate students in the top 10 percent of their class.
A junior from Guntersville, Ala., Barrow is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection and a 2002 Academic All-District second team pick. She boasts a 3.89 GPA in Marketing and has made the Chancellor's Roll all but one semester of her collegiate career. Barrow is a three-year letterwinner and played in all but two games a year ago for the Rebels, who have made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
Donaldson, a junior from Jasper, Ala., is a member of the Honors College and holds a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Donaldson helped lead the Rebels to their second consecutive SEC Western Division Championship in 2003 and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight. This year the Rebels are off to their best start (16-1, 7-0) in the history of the program.
Shields, a junior from Jacksonville, Fla., is a member of the Chancellor's Honor Roll and boasts a 3.80 GPA in Banking and Finance. An Academic All-SEC honoree in 2003, Shields has played 22 rounds this season with a 75.55 stroke average.
Hollander, a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Rebels from 1998-2001, was initiated as a member of the graduate school. She is working on her masters in education. During her career, Hollander was a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and a regular on the University Honor Roll. In 2001, she was named to the Academic All-America District team.
Pilcher, a senior from West Monroe, La., received the prestigious Taylor Medal for the School of Business. An Economics major, Pilcher is a member of the Chancellor's Honor Roll, Who's Who Among American Universities, Omicron Delta Kappa, Golden Key Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, Lambda Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta and the National Dean's List. He was nominated for the 2004 Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. The Rebels made the NCAA Regional field in 2001 and 2003 in baseball and have participated in three bowl games at Ole Miss - SBC Cotton, Independence and Music City Bowls.
Price earned a Taylor Medal for the School of Pharmacy. She completed an outstanding career for the Rebels in 2003, ranking among the top 10 in the SEC in several categories. Price was a finalist for the 2003 Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, a two-time Academic All-Region pick and a co-recipient of the 2003 Eugenia Conner Memorial Award, which honors the University's outstanding female student-athlete.