May 28, 2009

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SANDESTIN, Fla. - Former University of Tennessee Lady Vol swimmer Christine Magnuson and University of Mississippi tennis player Bram ten Berge were honored as recipients of the 2008-09 H. Boyd McWhorter Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award at the annual Awards Banquet at the league's spring meeting in Destin, Fla., on May 28.

The two were chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from SEC universities. Both will receive a $15,000 post-graduate scholarship, provided by AT&T, an SEC Corporate Champion sponsor, and the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

"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. "The commitment and dedication that Christine and Bram embody makes them excellent selections for the McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Award. They are outstanding representatives of their institutions and the Southeastern Conference."

Magnuson, a senior from Tinley Park, Ill., had a 3.68 grade point average and graduated with a degree in Exercise Science. She is a four-time member of the SEC Academic Honor and was named to the Thornton Center Honor Roll (3.0 GPA or higher) every semester at Tennessee enrolled in the Honors Program.

In 2008, she was the SEC and NCAA champion in the 100-yard butterfly and was the recipient of the Commissioner's Trophy after taking four gold medals at the SEC Championships. She was also named the SEC Female Swimmer of the Year and Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Magnuson earned a silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in the 100m butterfly and the 400m medley relay. She also placed in the top five in the 50m freestyle, the 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly at U.S. Nationals. She holds eight UT records, is a multiple-time All-American and has been ranked in the top 20 in the world in the 100m butterfly for the last two years.

A member of the honors program at UT, Magnuson is the daughter of Bill and Geri Magnuson.

The 11 other female nominee and recipients were: Brittany Rogers, Softball, Alabama; Aurelija Miseviciute, Tennis, Arkansas; Allison Whitworth, Soccer, Auburn; Kelsey Bowers, Volleyball, Florida; Courtney Kupets, Gymnastics, Georgia; Jessica Ortman, Track & Field, Kentucky; Lauren Klein, Gymnastics, LSU; Rachel Kieckhaefer, Volleyball, Ole Miss; Sammie Jo Bailey, Softball, Mississippi State; Ashton Payne, Softball, South Carolina; Christina Wirth, Basketball, Vanderbilt.

The SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was first presented in 1986. The honor was renamed the H. Boyd McWhorter SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in May 1990 to honor the former commissioner who served the conference from 1972-86.

Past recipients include: 2008 - Joseph Sykora, Alabama (golf) and Kristen Hastrup, Auburn (swimming & diving); 2007 - Emeel Salem, Alabama (baseball) and Erika Schneble, Vanderbilt (track & field); 2006 - Rudy Niswanger, LSU (football) and Sarah Lowe, Florida (basketball); 2005 - Rob Robertson, Ole Miss (football) and Lauryn McCalley, Tennessee (diving); 2004 - Caesar Garcia, Auburn (swimming & diving) and Lauren Imwalle, Alabama (soccer); 2003 - Matt Bonner, Florida (basketball) and Kristin Sterner, Alabama (gymnastics); 2002 - Trey Dyson, South Carolina (baseball) and Tiffany Woolley, Arkansas (softball); 2001 - Scott Westerfield, Mississippi State (football) and Kim Black, Georgia (swimming); 2000 - Joey Pitts, Georgia (tennis) and Lisette Lee, LSU (golf); 1999 - Jeff Zurcher, Kentucky (football) and Jessica Field, Arkansas (volleyball); 1998 - Jeremy Jackson, Mississippi State (baseball) and Shani Abshier, South Carolina (volleyball); 1997 - Andrew DeVooght, Georgia (swimming) and Meredith Willard, Alabama (gymnastics); 1996 - Martin Nyberg, LSU (swimming) and Michelle Palmisano, Vanderbilt (basketball); 1995 - Michael Blanchard, LSU (football) and April Ecke, Mississippi State (cross country); 1994 - Peter Duitsman, South Carolina (soccer) and Tammy Newlon, Mississippi State (basketball); 1993 - Lang Wiseman, Tennessee (basketball) and Aimee York, Mississippi State (volleyball); 1992 - Jeff Laubenthal, Alabama (baseball) and Jenifer Kleyn, Auburn (volleyball); 1991 - Al Parker, Georgia (tennis) and Patty Wiegand, Tennessee (track and cross country); 1990 - Burke Masters, Mississippi State (baseball) and Janice Kerr, Florida (gymnastics); 1989 - Mikael Olander, LSU (track) and Deanne Burnett, Georgia (swimming); 1988 - Danny Hoskins, Ole Miss (football) and Linda Leith, Georgia (swimming); 1987 - Jeff Noblin, Ole Miss (football) and Julie Estin, Alabama (gymnastics); 1986 - John Young, Tennessee (track) and Virginia Diederich, Georgia (swimming).