BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Auburn Equestrian’s Caroline Fredenburg and Swimming and Diving’s Danny Schmidt 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.
A native of Straughn, Indiana, Fredenburg has spent three years with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving on the executive team this year, where she coordinated monthly community service events. She organized the annual Campus Food Drive, in which athletics teams compete to collect food for the campus food pantry serving students facing food insecurity. Fredenburg has also participated in numerous holiday service events supporting local veterans and assisted living facilities, as well as the annual World Read Aloud Day. She has hosted elementary students from Macon County, providing on-campus experiences and opportunities to attend athletic events. Fredenburg also volunteered with the EAGLES Program, assisting students during the annual Special Olympics each spring, and worked with Project Uplift to organize a team event teaching young children about caring for horses. In addition, she has volunteered with organizations across the Auburn-Opelika area, including Azalea Place, Storybrook Farms and the Auburn Raptor Center.
Schmidt, a four-time All-American, has been a staple for the Tigers both in the pool and in the community. The German native is second all-time in program history in the 200 free, 200 fly, 200 IM and 400 IM. In relays, Schmidt helped then-record-setting performances in the 800 free relay.
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.
2025-26 Female Brad Davis SEC Community Service Award Winners:
• Olivia Lestelle, Rowing, Alabama
• Reagan Zibilski, Golf, Arkansas
• Caroline Fredenburg, Equestrian, Auburn
• Emily Wilkie, Softball, Florida
• Sarah Gordon, Softball, Georgia
• Ella Emmert, Softball, Kentucky
• Ashley Cowan, Gymnastics, LSU
• Nicole Gal, Golf, Ole Miss
• Izzy Pellot, Golf, Mississippi State
• Skylar Ciccolini, Track & Field, Missouri
• Sydney Thompson, Volleyball, Oklahoma
• Amy Riordan, Swimming & Diving, South Carolina
• Allison Buemi, Track & Field, Tennessee
• Kaydee Bennett, Softball, Texas
• Meagan Braun, Equestrian, Texas A&M
• Sonya Macavei, Tennis, Vanderbilt
2025-26 Male Brad Davis SEC Community Service Award Winners:
• Peyton Fox, Football, Alabama
• Cameron Ball, Football, Arkansas
• Danny Schmidt, Swimming & Diving, Auburn
• Gio Lincheer, Swimming & Diving, Florida
• Sam Powe, Swimming & Diving, Georgia
• Ryan Merani, Swimming & Diving, Kentucky
• Jacob Pishko, Swimming & Diving, LSU
• Mason Hickel, Track & Field, Ole Miss
• Jacoby Jackson, Football, Mississippi State
• Nate Pulliam, Wrestling, Missouri
• Deanthony Parker, Wrestling, Oklahoma
• Quinn Buck, Swimming & Diving, South Carolina
• Nick Stone, Swimming & Diving, Tennessee
• Cole Hutson, Football, Texas
• Ethan Silva, Tennis, Texas A&M
• Mustafa Dannett, Football, 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.