BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn Gymnast Sophia Groth and Swimming and Diving’s Andrew Simmons were named the Tigers’ recipients of the Brad Davis Community Service Award, the Southeastern Conference announced Thursday. The SEC announced male and female Brad Davis Community Service Award Winners for each of its 16 member institutions.
The school winners will each receive a $7,500 post-graduate scholarship provided by the SEC.
The SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship is named for former Associate Commissioner Brad Davis. Davis succumbed to cancer on March 2, 2006. He had been a member of the SEC staff since 1988, first serving as an assistant commissioner until 1994 when he was promoted to associate commissioner.
Groth, a four-year letterwinner and two-time All-American, has been a key member of not only the team, but the Auburn community as she has spent much of her time away from training serving the city and surrounding areas. For her efforts these past four years, the three-time SEC Community Service Team honoree was placed on the Allstate NACDA Good Works Team in March and was named team captain for the national squad, becoming the first female student-athlete to lead the distinguished group.
Groth has spent three years as part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and recently finished her stint as president. Throughout her roles with SAAC, she has organized community service events and has represented Auburn Athletics at various conference and national meetings. In addition, she has served as ambassador for Baby Steps, an organization that supports college students during and after unplanned pregnancies so that the student can still finish their degree. She has facilitated and organized toy drives for the Big House Foundation, has organized food drives for various food pantries in the area, has spent time with local elementary and middle school students through her work with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has facilitated bible studies for middle school girls in Opelika.
Simmons, a four-year letterman and SEC scorer for head swimming and diving coach Ryan Wochomurka, has been a standout in the Auburn community the moment he stepped onto the Plains. A staple at Mercy Medical Clinic, Simmons performs various tasks, helping the staff throughout the year. The Georgia native can also be found at the Big House Foundation of Alabama as well as Habitat for Humanity. Simmons has also launched campaigns for the East Alabama Food Bank and helped out at a Hispanic Health Event in Lee County.
2024-25 Female Brad Davis SEC Community Service Award Winners:
• Kailyn Winter, Swimming & Diving, Alabama
• Allie Thome, Swimming & Diving, Arkansas
• Sophia Groth, Gymnastics, Auburn
• Taylor Roberts, Golf, Florida
• Guillermina Grant, Tennis, Georgia
• Bridget Engel, Swimming & Diving, Kentucky
• Madison Martin, Volleyball, LSU
• Lea Horvath, Rifle, Ole Miss
• Ilana Izquierdo, Soccer, Mississippi State
• Ashlyn Mills, Soccer, Missouri
• Gabi Barerra, Track & Field, Oklahoma
• Taylor Fox, Soccer, South Carolina
• Callie Tucker, Track & Field, Tennessee
• Allyson Little, Cross Country, Texas
• Devon Thomas, Equestrian, Texas A&M
• Hannah Weissman, Swimming & Diving, Vanderbilt
2024-25 Male Brad Davis SEC Community Service Award Winners:
• Julian Collins, Track & Field, Alabama
• Brandon Battle, Track & Field, Arkansas
• Andrew Simmons, Swimming & Diving, Auburn
• Jadon Maddux, Track & Field, Florida
• Chaz Chambliss, Football, Georgia
• Jackson Watts, Cross Country, Kentucky
• Welsh Hotard, Men’s Tennis, LSU
• Iangelo Atkinstall-Daley, Track & Field, Ole Miss
• Keldrick Turner, Track & Field, Mississippi State
• Will Whittington, Swimming & Diving, Missouri
• Zach Schmit, Football, Oklahoma
• Jacobi Wright, Basketball, South Carolina
• Colby Backus, Baseball, Tennessee
• Coby Carrozza, Swimming & Diving, Texas
• Carter Bajoit, Track & Field, Texas A&M
• Graham Calton, Basketball, Vanderbilt
The male and female Community Service Leaders of the Year, to be announced later in May, will each receive a $15,000 post-graduate scholarship, provided by the SEC.