BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (April 26, 2023) - Anze Fers Erzen of the Texas A&M swimming and diving team and Grace Plain of the Aggies' cross country and track and field teams have been nominated for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship by Texas A&M University.
The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league's top male and female scholar-athletes.
The Southeastern Conference will name the 2023 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship on May 2.
Highlights of Texas A&M's nominees include:
ATHLETE
SPORT
MAJOR
Anze Fers Erzen, Texas A&M
Swimming & Diving
Psychology
Earned CSC (Formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-America First Team and All-Region honors, boasting
a 4.0 cumulative GPA, 2023
Two-time CSCAA Scholar All-American
Multi-year member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll
Named to the Athletics Directors Honor Roll and Dean's List
Participated in the Horizon Performance - Emerging Leaders Program
Team captain senior season, 2023
Qualified for NCAA Championships in both of his seasons in Aggieland
Named to the All-SEC Second Team after earning silver in the 400 IM at SEC Championships, 2023
Boasts top five times in program history in the 200 back (1:40.31), 200 fly (1:42.55), 200 IM (1:43.29),
and 400 IM (3:39.05), while also holding a top-10 time in the 100 back (46.83).
ATHLETE
SPORT
MAJOR
Grace Plain, Texas A&M
Cross Country/Track & Field
Nutrition
Carries a 3.752 GPA in Nutrition while minoring in Communication & Psychology.
SAAC Executive Committee as VP of Diversity & Inclusion
Has been a SAAC Representative the past two years and has participated in discussions with
President Banks' team on diversity initiatives
Upon graduation, plans on attending the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry
Hopes to serve in the Dental Corps in the United States Air Force
Key scorer on the cross country team the past few seasons
Member of SEC Academic Honor Roll every semester since Fall 2019, as well as garnering numerous
selections to the All-AD Honor Roll
Ranks No. 7 all-time at Texas A&M in the 5,000 meters (indoors), No. 10 in the 3000 meters (indoors)
and No. 12 in the 10,000 meters (outdoors)
Set personal best times in every one of her races indoors and outdoors in the past 12 months,
including in the mile, 3K and 5K indoors in 2023.
Won bronze medal in the 10K at the Texas Relays last season
The SEC provides the league's male and female McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year Post-Graduate Scholarship recipients with a $20,000 post-graduate scholarship. The 26 remaining male and female finalists for the award will also receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship.
The award recipients are chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from the 14 SEC institutions and are announced in May, as well as honored by the league membership at SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Fla.
Last year's McWhorter Award recipients were Mississippi State football student-athlete Austin Williams and Lisa Gunnarsson of the LSU women's track & field team.
Anze Fers Erzen, Texas A&M