The University of Mississippi Athletics
Two Rebels Earn Taylor Medal
4/7/2017 | Volleyball
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss volleyball player Aubrey Edie and soccer player Danielle Gray were among 78 University of Mississippi students to receive the 2017 Taylor Medal it was announced at the 74th annual Honors Convocation at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday evening.
The Taylor Medal is the highest academic honor a student can receive at the University of Mississippi. The Taylor Medal recognizes outstanding academic performance and is given to no more than one percent of the student body. To be considered, a student must have a grade-point average of at least a 3.90.
Derek Cowherd, senior associate athletic director of student-athlete development, is pleased with the example that Edie and Gray have set for their fellow student-athletes.
"Aubrey and Danielle have been great examples of what we would hope all student-athletes could accomplish in their collegiate careers," said Cowherd. "To be honored as a Taylor medalist is an impressive feat in and of itself, but for an accomplished athlete to do so should make the University community very proud."
Edie, who was recently awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, has made the most of her career both on the volleyball court and in the classroom. Directing the offensive attack for the Rebels in 2016, Edie became the career record holder at Ole Miss with 4,834 assists, which ranked fourth in the NCAA in active career assists. She ranked fifth in the SEC in assists per set and paved the way for the Rebels to have two hitters among the top 10 in the SEC and two players in the top 10 in kills and points per set. Edie earned AVCA All-South Region honors.
Off the court, Edie, an elementary education major, became the first two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America honoree in program history in 2016 and the first player to be named to the first team. Edie is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District First Teamer as well as a three-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. She has made the Chancellor's Honor Roll every semester and has been named to the SEC Community Service Team twice.
"This is an incredible achievement for Aubrey," head volleyball coach Steven McRoberts said. "She is ending her college experience with one of the highest academic honors possible. Aubrey has always put the student first in student-athlete. We are very proud of her."
Gray becomes the second Ole Miss soccer player to earn the prestigious Taylor medal joining Ashley Ferree. A transfer from Kennesaw State, Gray is a two-time SEC Academic Honor Roll recipient. In 2015 she played in all but one match and logged more than 1,100 minutes tallying two goals and three assists. Gray helped the team to the NCAA Sweet 16 and a their highest ever final ranking at No. 16 in 2015.
"Since joining our program a few years ago, Dani has proven to be a leader for us in a multitude of ways," said head soccer coach Matt Mott. "A former transfer who's battled adversity her whole career, Dani has excelled academically and truly embraces the term student-athlete. We're very excited for her to receive the Outstanding Undergraduate Marketing Student Award, and are especially thrilled she is one of the very few recipients of the Taylor Medal."
Men's tennis player Robert Mounger was also awarded the Accountancy Alumni Chapter Academic Achievement Award at the convocation.
The Taylor Memorial was founded by William A. Taylor in June 1904. He founded the award in memory of his son, Marcus Elvis Taylor, an honored alumnus of the class of 1871, and out of benevolent regard and good will for the youth of the state and the interest and the work of the University of Mississippi, and for the encouragement of meritorious scholarship department. The Taylor Memorial, as well as the other awards presented to the students, is chosen by a committee of faculty and staff members.
List of Student-Athletes To Earn Taylor Medal
WVB | 2017 | |
WSO | 2017 | |
Gamble, Forrest | MGO | 2016 |
Backstrom, Johan | MTE | 2015 |
Redding, Jonathan | MTR | 2015 |
Schiavone, Stani | WGO | 2015 |
Rohde-Moe, Caroline | WTE | 2014 |
Hellberg-Jonsen, Sofia | WTR | 2014 |
Fowler, Kathryn | WGO | 2013 |
Doornberg, Corrine | WSB | 2012 |
Hutcheson, Amanda | WSB | 2012 |
Rangel, Gabby | WTE | 2012 |
Phillips, Wesley | MFB | 2011 |
Moore, Lee Ellis | MTR | 2011 |
Haltom, Scott | MBA | 2010 |
Casey Phillips | RIFLE | 2008 |
Ferree, Ashley | WSO | 2007 |
For further academic accolades, follow @UMTrueRebel on Twitter.
Ole Miss Student-Athlete Development Mission
The mission of Ole Miss' Student-Athlete Development program is to challenge student-athletes to be lifelong learners while pursuing continuous improvement academically, relationally, socially, personally, and professionally during and beyond their careers as student-athletes.
