The University of Mississippi Athletics
Niesen, Scales Named Ole Miss Nominees for SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholarship
4/16/2026 | Cross Country, Track and Field, Volleyball, Student-Athlete Development
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Rebel seniors Cammy Niesen of Ole Miss volleyball and Gabe Scales of Ole Miss men's track & field and cross country have been nominated for the SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship by the University of Mississippi, the SEC announced Thursday.
The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league's top male and female scholar-athletes.
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 30 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 16 SEC institutions.
Niesen recently finished her career as Ole Miss' all-time leader in digs at 1,853, which also ranks her among the best in SEC history within the conference's all-time top-10. Niesen was a four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week and won the overall SEC weekly award once during her superb Rebel career, which also included an Ole Miss single-match digs record of 39 vs. Arkansas and a spot on the first team in school history to earn a win in the NCAA Tournament in 2024.
Academically, Niesen – a chemical engineering major – was the first SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Ole Miss volleyball history in 2024. She was also an honorable mention AVCA All-South Region member in 2024 alongside four career SEC academic honor rolls and three total spots on the CSC Academic All-District team in her time as a Rebel.
Scales, a member of both the Ole Miss men's track and cross country squads, is a three-time SEC scorer for the Rebels on the track – including as a member of the silver medal distance medley relay squad indoors this season. He currently ranks ninth all-time in the 1500-meter outdoors (3:41.38), and he leaves Ole Miss ninth in the DMR (9:30.34) and 14th in the mile (4:00.15).
Scales graduated with his bachelor's in biological science in May 2025 and is currently working toward his certificate in intercollegiate athletic administration. He is a four-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and a three-time honoree of the Spring version, as well as a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic selection.
FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center and Ole Miss Student-Athlete Development Mission
The mission of the FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center is to promote academic and personal achievement through quality developmental and need-based programs designed to empower and holistically develop student-athletes for life after collegiate athletics.
The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league's top male and female scholar-athletes.
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 30 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 16 SEC institutions.
Niesen recently finished her career as Ole Miss' all-time leader in digs at 1,853, which also ranks her among the best in SEC history within the conference's all-time top-10. Niesen was a four-time SEC Defensive Player of the Week and won the overall SEC weekly award once during her superb Rebel career, which also included an Ole Miss single-match digs record of 39 vs. Arkansas and a spot on the first team in school history to earn a win in the NCAA Tournament in 2024.
Academically, Niesen – a chemical engineering major – was the first SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in Ole Miss volleyball history in 2024. She was also an honorable mention AVCA All-South Region member in 2024 alongside four career SEC academic honor rolls and three total spots on the CSC Academic All-District team in her time as a Rebel.
Scales, a member of both the Ole Miss men's track and cross country squads, is a three-time SEC scorer for the Rebels on the track – including as a member of the silver medal distance medley relay squad indoors this season. He currently ranks ninth all-time in the 1500-meter outdoors (3:41.38), and he leaves Ole Miss ninth in the DMR (9:30.34) and 14th in the mile (4:00.15).
Scales graduated with his bachelor's in biological science in May 2025 and is currently working toward his certificate in intercollegiate athletic administration. He is a four-time member of the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and a three-time honoree of the Spring version, as well as a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic selection.
FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center and Ole Miss Student-Athlete Development Mission
The mission of the FedEx Student-Athlete Success Center is to promote academic and personal achievement through quality developmental and need-based programs designed to empower and holistically develop student-athletes for life after collegiate athletics.
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Volleyball
Distance
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