AUBURN, Ala. – Two Auburn student-athletes in equestrian's Helen Ulrich and football's Bill Taylor were named recipients of the NCAA's Jim McKay Scholarship, the national office announced Tuesday.
The pair will each receive a $10,000 scholarship, which is awarded to college athletes who demonstrated achievement in sports communication or public relations or hope to contribute to the field.
The McKay Scholarship recognizes a student-athlete's outstanding academic achievements and potential to make major contributions to the sports communications industry. The scholarship was created in 2008 to honor pioneer sports journalist Jim McKay, and the recipients are selected by the NCAA Walter Byers Scholarship Committee.
Ulrich graduated with a degree in journalism this spring, while Taylor graduated with a degree in agricultural communications in December.
Ulrich has been a member of two national championship teams with Auburn equestrian, while has also been a part of three straight Southeastern Conference titles. She has decided to return to Auburn for a fifth season of competition and plans to earn a master's in sports communications.
Taylor, Auburn's long snapper for the past three seasons, looks to work in agricultural lobbying or for a government agency involved in agriculture. He is currently a graduate assistant in agricultural and environmental education while pursuing a master's degree at the University of Georgia.
