Twenty-three University of Kentucky student-athletes will be inducted into the Frank G. Ham Society of Character on Tuesday at a ceremony to be held at UK’s Center for Academic and Tutorial Services.
The student-athletes will be introduced at Rupp Arena during the men’s basketball game vs. LSU on Feb. 7.
The Society of Character annually honors Wildcats who have shown an extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, athletic participation, personal development, career preparation and serving as a role model. The SOC was founded during the 1998-99 school year and is named for Ham, a longtime UK administrator.
This year’s induction class is listed below in alphabetical order.
Evelyn Akhator, Basketball (W)
· 3.4 GPA
· Relentless in the classroom, having to work harder than everyone else with English coming as her second language
· Second Team All-SEC in 2016 and four-time SEC Player of the Week
· Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Louisiana flood relief drives, God’s Pantry and the Markey Cancer Center
Bridgette Alexander, Swimming (W)
· Finalist at the SEC Championships her freshman year and scored for UK at the NCAA Championships
· Olympic trial finalist for Team USA in the 200 backstroke
· SEC All-Freshman Team and honor-roll member
· Volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Lexington Homework Helpers, Ronald McDonald House and the Special Olympics
Andrew Aviotti, Swimming (M)
· Named team captain for his excellent leadership skills
· Member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Dean’s List, and SEC Community Service Team
· School record holder in men’s 1000-yard freestyle and 1650-yard freestyle
· Earlier this season, became the first in UK history to post a time under 15 minutes in the 1650 free to break his own school record
· Volunteered with Tri for Sight, Catholic Action Center, God’s Pantry, Raven Run 5K, Salvation Army and the American Red Cross
Alex Carter, Soccer (W)
· 3.9 GPA, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in May
· Team captain in 2015 and 2016, starting in every game of her final three seasons on the pitch
· 2014 SEC All-Tournament Team
· Has volunteered with Campus Kitchen, Lexington Rescue Mission, Beach Reach, God’s Pantry, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Operation Christmas Child
Kendal Casey, Swimming (W)
· Consistent scorer at the SEC and NCAA Championships for Kentucky in the pool
· 3.81 GPA with a major in economics and double minors of international business and Spanish
· NCAA All-America Honorable Mention (2016), SEC Academic Honor Roll (2014, 15, 16), All-SEC Freshman Team (2014), 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trial qualifier
· Has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, Raven’s Run, Louisiana flood relief and Spindletop Country Club
Morgan Chumney, Tennis (W)
· 3.85 GPA with a major in marketing
· Played primarily in the No. 4 spot, with her only losses coming against SEC opponents in 2016, her junior year
· Transferred to Kentucky after spending her freshman and sophomore seasons at Oklahoma
· Has volunteered with Cats Cultivating Character, God’s Pantry, Ethiopia Service trip, Breakfast with Santa
Kendra Crew, Swimming (W)
· Serving as a team captain for the 2016-17 season
· Competed at the 2016 United States Olympic Trials for the summer Olympics in Rio
· Has qualified and competed in the NCAA and SEC Championships
· Has volunteered with the United Way, God’s Pantry, International Book Project, Raven Run 5K, Hope Lodge, Carnegie Center for Learning and the Ronald McDonald House
Allison Dupay, Swimming (W)
· A member of Kentucky’s 2015 and 2016 SEC Championship Team
· Majoring in Kinesiology and Health Promotion, qualifying for the Dean’s List
· Will graduate a semester early, obtaining her degree in three and a half years
· Has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, Serenity House, God’s Pantry, American Red Cross, Louisiana flood relief, Raven Run 5K and Tates Creek Middle School
Kyle Higgins, Swimming (M)
· The UK record holder in the event, Higgins has the No. 6 time among Division I swimmers this year in the 200 fly and was an Olympic Trial semifinalist in the event in 2016
· Started his career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship
· SEC finalist and NCAA qualifier in 2015 in addition to being named the men’s swimming team MVP
· Has volunteered with the Lexington Hope Center, Special Olympics, Iron Horse Half-Marathon, and University of Kentucky blanket project
Jacob Hyde, Football
· Graduating in the spring from Kentucky with a degree in social work
· SEC Academic Honor Roll member in 2015
· Worked with Jason Cummins on his Impact Leadership Team to serve as one of the team-elected leaders of the 2015 season
· Has volunteered with Read Across America, the Special Olympics, Jessamine Co. Youth Football and the Woodford Co. Library summer reading program
Kate Kelly, Swimming (W)
· Set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Health Promotion
· 2014 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll and 2016 SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll
· Last season, she had her fastest time of the season in the 200 fly at the Ohio State Winter Invite with a 2:04.25 time trial, and also had her fastest 50 free mark in 24.67 at the meet
· Has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, Kentucky Aquatics, Cathedral of Christ the King, and the Kindergarten Sunday School at UK’s Newman Center
Darian Mack, Volleyball
· 2014 and 2015 SEC Academic Honor Roll member
· SEC Community Service Team member in 2015
· In her sophomore season, she appeared in every match, making 27 starts in 112 sets played and was named to the Shocker Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team. She led Kentucky in kills in three matches this season, including 17 against Marquette.
· Has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, God’s Pantry, and the Importance of Healthy Eating
Whitney O’Bryan, Cross Country (W)
· Is a state of Kentucky registered nurse with 800 hours logged in the last two years
· SEC Academic Honor Roll member all three years of her Kentucky career
· Has volunteered with Soled Out, Christian Student Fellowship, Cassidy Elementary School and Tates Creek Elementary
Meagan Prince, Softball
· Won 21 games in 2016, a new season high, and was named SEC Pitcher of the Week for the first time in her career
· Threw a no-hitter vs. South Dakota, her first-career no-hitter as a Wildcat
· Voted team captain for the 2017 season by her teammates, coaches and support staff
· Studying agricultural and medical biotechnology with plans of attending veterinary school
· Has volunteered with CSF Meal Packing, UK Hospital’s Blanket Project, the Miracle League and God’s Pantry
Breanne Ray, Softball
· Elected a team captain for the 2017 season by her teammates, coaches and support staff
· CoSIDA First Team All-Region in 2016 for the second year in a row
· Has a 3.9 cumulative GPA and is set to graduate with a degree in communication sciences and disorders
· Has volunteered with Step-by-Step, Bluegrass Miracle League, Oakview Nursing Rehabilitation Center, Classroom AAC Activity, God’s Pantry and the Louisiana flood relief
Alyssa Rice, Basketball (W)
· Three-year member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and was voted on by peers in the league as the vice chair of the SEC Women’s Basketball Leadership Council.
· Has been a member of the Gatton College of Business & Economics Dean’s List every semester on campus and is currently maintaining a 3.9 GPA
· Leader on the team with 80 career games played, and ranks second on the team in rebounds.
· Has volunteered with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Breakfast with Santa, God’s Pantry and Greenhouse 17
Grace Rose, Golf (W)
· Part of UK Athletics’ overseas trip to Ethiopia in the summer of 2016
· Nominated for Best Supporting Role at the 2014 CATSPYs in her freshman season
· Led UK with two top-20 finishes in 2015-16
· Has volunteered with mission trips to Haiti, Jamaica and Ethiopia, the Salvation Army, Jesus Prom, Breakfast with Santa and the Louisiana flood relief drive
Paul Sime, Soccer (M)
· Carries a 4.0 GPA in the classroom and has been a three-year starter in the midfield
· 2015 and 2016 Conference USA All-Academic Team and 2014-16 member of the UK Athletics Director Honor Roll
· Helped Kentucky win the 2015 Conference USA regular-season championship
· Has volunteered with the Salvation Army, God’s Pantry and the UK Blanket Project
Shannon Smith, Softball
· Elected a team captain for the 2017 season by her teammates, coaches and support staff
· Carries a 3.63 GPA in the classroom majoring in kinesiology and business management
· Threw her first-career no-hitter in 2016 at the Chattanooga Frost Classic against Eastern Illinois
· Has volunteered with the Ronald McDonald House, Miracle League, Salvation Army, United Way and the Special Olympics
Jamie Stevenson, Swimming (M)
· Looking to pursue a career in politics in his hometown of Washington D.C. after graduating from Kentucky with a degree in Integrated Strategic Communication
· Was part of Jason Cummins’ Impact Leadership in 2013 and 2014 and nominated for the Scratch Award at the 2016 CATSPY Awards
· Placed fourth in 15:55.12 in the 1650 freestyle at the season opener for UK this season
· Has volunteered with the Wildcat Invitational, VA Hospital and God’s Pantry
Aldila Sutjiadi, Tennis (W)
· USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Doubles Indoor champion and ITA All-American Doubles Consolation Champion in 2016
· Ended the 2015-16 season ranked No. 1 in the nation in doubles and was also the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Singles champion
· Has earned a 3.943 GPA in mathematical economics
· Team captain in 2015 and 2016 while being named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll every year of her career
· Has volunteered with Kentucky Children’s Hospital, God’s Pantry, Breakfast with Santa, Louisiana flood relief and the Ronald McDonald House
Ale Walker, Golf (W)
· Part of Kentucky’s trip to Ethiopia in the summer of 2015
· Has maintained a 3.6 GPA with a major of marketing and management
· Currently has a 74.9 stroke average through the fall season, posting two even- or under-par rounds in eight fall rounds after missing nearly a year and a half of competition due to injuries
· Has volunteered with God’s Pantry, Louisiana flood relief, the Salvation Army, Christmas in July, and Breakfast with Santa
Austin “Storm” Wilson, Baseball
· Has completed his bachelor’s degree in business management and is enrolled in an MBA program
· Three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member (2014-16)
· Has a career .393 OPB, as well as ranking among the school’s all-time leaders in HBP.
· Has volunteered with the Wounded Warriors Project, Miracle League, Breakfast with Santa, God’s Pantry and the UK Blanket Project
For the latest on the Kentucky athletics, follow @UKathletics on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.
‑ GO CATS –
For more information contact:
Chris Shoals