Tusculum’s NeSmith, Newberry’s Bulcher Receive 2009-10 SAC Presidents Award

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Two student-athletes who distinguished themselves both athletically and in the classroom have been named the 2009-10 South Atlantic Conference Presidents Award recipients, following a vote of the league's Faculty Athletics Representatives at the annual SAC business meetings in Asheville, N.C.

Tusculum College football player Jarrell NeSmith and Newberry College basketball player Anita Bulcher are this year's recipients. NeSmith receives the award for the second year in a row.

NeSmith graduated from Tusculum with a 3.87 GPA as a pre-medicine major. He received the 2009-10 Tusculum College President's Award, the most prestigious honor awarded to a Tusculum College student. He is a two-time member of the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America® College Division II Football Team. This year, he was named to the ESPN first team. In 2008, he was named to the second team. NeSmith was the first three-time recipient of the football Scholar-Athlete Award in conference history.

On the field, NeSmith, a 6-2, 225-pound tight end from Russellville, Ala., was a two-time All-SAC First Team selection. This year he led the league in receiving yards per game, averaging 67.8 yards per contest. He finished his career with 158 receptions (3rd in TC history) for 1,670 yards (4th in TC history).

Jarrell NeSmith

Anita Bulcher

He was also named to the Daktronics NCAA Division II All-Super Region 2 First Team for a second straight year. He earned All-America honors in 2008 from three organizations as he posted 67 receptions for 635 yards and seven touchdowns and was also an All-Conference and All-Region selection.

NeSmith was named as one of the 16 national finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy and was the only NCAA Division II representative on the 2009 National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Team, which included Heisman Trophy candidates Tim Tebow (Florida) and Colt McCoy (Texas).

He was also a national semifinalist for the American Football Coaches Association's Good Works Team.

NeSmith is very active as a campus and community leader. He is a volunteer with the Lunch Buddies Program at Doak Elementary School and the Adopt-A-Highway program. He also volunteered with Habitat For Humanity. NeSmith has been a speaker at South Greene High School and Chucky Mullins Center, addressing students on the importance of education.

NeSmith has been accepted to medical school at Lincoln Memorial University.

Bulcher was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America® College Division women's basketball first team.

She graduated with a 3.96 GPA while majoring in psychology. She was presented the 2010 winner of W.L. Laval Award, presented to a member of the Newberry College senior class who is judged to be outstanding in athletics, scholarship, character, and leadership.

On the court, Bulcher, a forward from Russia, Ohio, was an All-Conference first team selection and named to the Daktronics Southeast All-Region team. She averaged a double-double this season and consistently ranked in the top two in the country in rebounds per game (11.8). She also led the South Atlantic Conference in both the offensive (112) and defensive (173) rebound categories and ranked second in the league in field goal percentage (.558).

Off the court, Bulcher served as the Newberry College Student Government Association student body Vice President for the past two years. She also served as the President of Christians Living Among You and the Honor Council Chairman of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Despite her various commitments and practice schedule, Bulcher has still earned Dean's List honors every semester since her arrival on campus.

NeSmith and Bulcher will now be eligible for the Conference Commissioner's Association National Scholar-Athlete Award. NeSmith was a finalist last year, while former Wingate University basketball standout Anna Atkinson won the award in 2008 and 2009.