The University of Mississippi Athletics
Lees, Jones Winners of SEC Community Post-Graduate Scholarships
April 9, 1998
University of Alabama soccer player Nicole Lees and University of
Mississippi football player Walker Jones have been named as recipients of
the 1997-98 Southeastern Conference Community Service Post-Graduate
Scholarship, Commissioner Roy Kramer announced Thursday.
The two were chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives
from the 12 SEC universities. Each will receive a $5,000 post-graduate
scholarship, provided by the SEC.
"The Southeastern Conference is pleased to honor Nicole and Walker for
their community service work," said Kramer. "Through their many hours of
volunteerism, Nicole and Walker have made their communities a better place
to live. Hopefully, others will see the contributions they have made and
will follow their lead."
A four-time letterwinner for the Alabama soccer team, Lees helped lead the
Crimson Tide to the SEC Western Division title in 1995 and 1997 and became
the school's all-time assist leader. She was a President's List and Dean's
List student in 1995 and was a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Lees has volunteered at various soccer clinics in the Tuscaloosa-Birmingham
area. She is also active in her church, taking part in college and high
school leadership conferences and speaking to various community groups.
Since 1994, Lees has worked on the College Leadership Team at Calvary
Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, where she has been actively involved in bible
studies and discipleship groups. She served on a mission project to
Washington, D.C., where she served meals at homeless shelters and conducted
bible clubs in an inner city low income apartment complex.
She has spoken to various church and children's groups and has worked with
high school students, teaching bible study. Lees has served Thanksgiving
dinner to the homeless and has also adopted underpriviledged children during
Christmas to provide them with presents every year since 1994.
The daughter of Nick and Lyn Lees is a native of Marietta, Ga. A Sports
Fitness Management major, Lees will graduate in August 1998 and will likely
pursue a masters degree in either Theology or Exercise Physiology.
Jones was a three-year starter and four-year letterman for the Ole Miss
football team. He was a member of the SEC and American Football Coaches
Association Good Works Teams. During his football career, Jones recorded 226
total tackles, recording seven sacks and five interceptions. During his
first two years, Jones played strong safety and moved to linebacker before
his junior season.
A three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, Jones was named to the
Chancellor's Honor Roll once and the UMAA Honor Roll five times. In 1995, he
was selected to the GTE Academic All-District VI team. In the fall of 1994,
Jones received the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Ole Miss chapter of the
National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Jones has worked as a youth counselor and has mentored middle school and
elementary school children. He also volunteered at a children's cancer
clinic and has worked with the United Way and Special Olympics. In 1997,
Jones volunteered at the Jackson (Miss.) Burn Center for Children. In 1996,
he helped build homes with Habitat for Humanity.
The son of Bill and Susan Jones is a native of Jackson, Miss. He was
selected to Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges and received the
Leadership Award, given by the Birmingham (Ala.) Ole Mis Alumni Club. A
general business major, Jones has aspirations of obtaining a master's degree
in business.
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship was first presented in
1996. Past recipients include: 1997 - Tim Lanier, LSU (baseball) and Andrea
Bullock, Vanderbilt (golf); 1996 - Tony Johnson, Alabama (football) and Erin
Tenbrunsel, Alabama (volleyball).