MACON – The Mercer Athletics Department recently earned its first Barrett-Bonner Award, which is given to the Southern Conference institution that places the highest percentage of its student athletes on the league's academic honor roll.
“We are very proud of our student-athletes and academic support staff for achieving this honor,” said Mercer Director of Athletics Jim Cole. “This award is a direct result of the work done by Sybil Blalock and her staff and it validates our commitment to success in the classroom.”
Mercer placed 67.8 percent of its student-athletes on the Honor Roll for the 2014-15 academic year. This is the first year Mercer was eligible to win the award after its inaugural season as a SoCon member during the 2014-15 academic year. The award is based on the 2014-15 academic year due to the 2015-16 honor roll not being complete.
The Barrett-Bonner Award was first presented in 1994, for the 1992-93 academic year. The award is named after Col. John G. Barrett, faculty athletics representative at VMI from 1965-87, and Dr. Francis W. Bonner, faculty athletics representative at Furman from 1968-90.
The award was presented to Mercer at this year's Southern Conference Honors Dinner, held in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Other honors handed out at the dinner included the Graduation Award, the D.S. McAlister Award, All-Sports trophies, Athletes of the Year, and postgraduate scholarships.
For the complete history of the Barrett-Bonner Award, click here.
