The Peach Belt Conference and SunTrust Banks, Inc., announced Tuesday that USC Aiken student Kofi Trim was awarded the PBC-SunTrust Minority Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial support to a deserving Peach Belt minority student-athlete in pursuit of postgraduate college degree. Trim, who played on the men's soccer team and graduated from USCA in December, was the winner of the fall graduate scholarship; another scholarship will be awarded in June to a spring semester graduate.
"I am truly honored to be the recipient of such a prestigious award," said Trim, who plans to begin graduate school in the fall. "This award solidifies the fact that hard work and dedication are still rewarded and cherished. I appreciate SunTrust's support of this scholarship program and offer many thanks to USC Aiken and the Peach Belt conference for all that they have done for me in my personal development."
A native of San Juan, Trinidad, Trim graduated with a business degree in marketing from USCA with a 3.837 cumulative GPA. A two-year starter on the Pacer soccer team defense, he made nine starts in 2010. He was named to the PBC All-Academic team and received the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.
"Because we believe that education is the foundation for a strong community - and a strong bank - SunTrust has a long and proud history of supporting schools and education programs that offer opportunities to gifted students," said E. Jenner Wood III, president and chief executive officer of SunTrust Bank, Atlanta/Georgia Division. "This scholarship continues that long tradition and we are pleased to award it to Kofi for his graduate work."
Trim balanced his athletic responsibilities with consistent classroom work and on-campus involvement. He was named the Most Outstanding Marketing Student of 2011 while participating on the School of Business student advisory board. He also served as a Pacesetter and Spirit Club member and was named to the USCA Dean's List and the PBC Presidential Honor Roll.
"Students like Kofi Trim are the reason we worked with SunTrust to create this award," said PBC commissioner David R. Brunk. "What he has been able to do on the field, in the classroom and on campus speaks to his dedication and commitment to not only making himself the best he can be, but to providing leadership and camaraderie to those around him. We are so pleased to be partnered with SunTrust and be able to recognize students like Kofi and provide them some help as they continue to pursue their goals."
Trim plans to pursue a career in marketing and advertising with the goal of beginning his own agency to serve Trinidad and Tobago and other developing Caribbean nations.
Pacer women ranked 13th in latest national basketball poll
The USC Aiken women's basketball team moved up one spot to 13th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll.
The Pacers were ranked 17th in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll. In the first regular season poll of 2011-12 on Nov. 22, USCA checked in at No. 23. The Pacers were ranked 21st on Nov. 29. USCA was ranked 18th in the Dec. 6 poll. In the last poll of the 2011 portion of the 2011-12 regular season on Dec. 13, USC Aiken was ranked 16th. The first poll of 2012 saw the Pacers ranked 14th.
USCA is one of two Peach Belt Conference teams ranked currently with Clayton State the highest ranked PBC squad at No. 3.
The Pacers enter the upcoming week in the midst of a 10-game winning streak, tying for the most consecutive wins under 10th-year head coach Mike Brandt. The current 10-game winning streak places the Pacers just one win away from tying the school record for wins in a row.
USCA has now been ranked in 19 straight USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Polls.
USC Aiken (11-1, 4-0 PBC) only has one game in the coming week The Pacers will next play their annual league game against Georgia College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. Two days later, USCA will open the next week playing the first of its two games in the 2011-12 season against rival Augusta State.