Oct. 6, 2015
Nathan Rakitt (far left) and Megan Kurey (far right) with Sandra, Mike, Chatman and Blair Ecker
Chris Yandle | Communications & Public Relations
Every game, student-athletes excel on the court, on the field, on the track, or in the pool as they represent the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in competition. They’re the MVPs in competition, but there are so many MVPs behind these student-athletes that provide resources necessary for them to compete both in the classroom and on the field of play.
During Georgia Tech’s Oct. 3 football game vs. North Carolina, the Alexander-Tharpe Fund recognized the donors and student-athlete recipients of endowed athletic scholarships that valued more than $200,000 each. Many other endowed scholarships have been established that were not publicly recognized in-game and the A-T Fund is eternally grateful to those donors for their generosity.
“(These endowed scholarships) are special to us because when we got involved, there was little financial support for the swim team,” said Alan Dorris. “The President of Tech at that time was Pat Crecine, who personally asked that we designate the money for swimming. We felt a little like pioneers in that sense. Each year we look forward to meeting our athletes, keeping in touch and watching them perform. Although our involvement has spanned several coaches, Coach Hart has been the most active – she has been a real plus for us!”
Endowments provided by these loyal Tech supporters generate scholarships awarded each year to outstanding student-athletes. Saturday’s in-game recognition honored some of the scholarships awarded to athletic training, golf, swimming & diving, softball, men’s and women’s tennis and women’s basketball. The remaining sports’ endowed scholarships will be recognized October 17 during the Pitt game.
Zaire O’Neil with Mary Brock
Here are the endowed donors and scholarship recipients honored October 3:
Jay Shoop Athletic Training — Ashley Saint Claire
Dr. Aaron King Athletic Training — Mona Abraham
Albert N. “Bud” Parker Tennis — Andrew Li and Michael Kay
Kenneth G. and Tricia F. Byers Men’s and Women’s Tennis — Christopher Eubanks and Johnnise Renaud
Allen and Sandra Ecker Men’s and Women’s Tennis — Nathan Rakitt and Megan Kurey
James L. Nicol Athletic — Maddie Lionberger, softball
Homer Rice Total Person Athletic — Morgan Taylor (softball) and Ricky Lehner (swimming)
John G. Hiles Swimming — Stefan Kranenberg
H.L. “Jack” Dorris Swimming — Mark Keaveney
Tommy Towles Men’s Swimming — Brian Woodbury, Moises Loschi, and Alex Kimpel
Ron Bell Swimming — Frederique Lefebvre
Lewis Jordan Family Athletic — Mats Westergren (swimming) and Dejoria Howard (basketball)
Mary Rockett Brock Women’s Basketball — Zaire O’Neil
Sapitowicz Family Women’s Basketball — Ciani Cryor
Neil W. Riley Memorial Golf — James Clark
Dellinger-Barnes Golf — Michael Hines
R.J. “Doc” Noonan Senior Golf — Chris Petefish
David Dorman Golf — Chris Petefish
The A-T Fund would also like to recognize those endowed donors and scholarship recipients that were unable to attend Saturday’s recognition:
Carl J. Reith Golf — Tyler Joiner
David Duval Golf — Tye Waller
Jack M. Zeigler Golf — Michael Pisciotta
Robert G. Dennis Golf — Tyler Joiner
Yates Golf — Jacob Joiner
Robert T. Jones Golf — Michael Hines
Jess Newbern Golf — Michael Hines
Coach Herb McAuley Swimming — Brad Homza
Five Star Women’s Basketball — Aaliyah Whiteside
Charles K. Sewell Athletic — Chelsea Guimaraes (women’s basketball)
Swimmers Brian Woodbury, Moises Loschi and Alex Kimpel with David Towles Jr.
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund thanks the contributors of all endowed athletic scholarships for giving our student-athletes the opportunity to excel in their sport while receiving an extraordinary education from one of the finest institutions in America.
If you would like information on how you can establish an endowed scholarship, contact Mindy Hyde in the Alexander-Tharpe Fund by phone at 404-894-5435 or by email at mhyde@athletics.gatech.edu.
