Courtesy: SEC Sports
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (April 15, 2026) – Matthew Sophia of the LSU men’s track and field team and Megan Barnes of the Tigers’ swimming and diving team have been nominated for the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship by Louisiana State University.
The H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship has been presented by the Southeastern Conference since 1986 to the league’s top male and female scholar-athletes.
The Southeastern Conference will name the 2026 recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Post-Graduate Scholarship in late April.
Highlights of LSU’s nominees include:
MEGAN BARNES, LSU, Swimming and Diving
Major: Information System and Decision Sciences
- SEC Academic Honor Roll (2025, 2024)
- President’s Honor Roll (2025, 2024)
- Dean’s List (2022)
- College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team (2025)
- NCAA Championships Qualifier (2026, 2025, 2024, 2023)
- SEC Champion in 400 Free Relay (2023)
- School Record Holder (200 Free, 500 Free, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay)
- Participated in 15 hours of Community Service (Habitat for Humanity, numerous events with LSU Tiger Life)
MATTHEW SOPHIA, LSU, Track & Field/Cross Country
Major: Sport Administration
- SEC Academic Honor Roll (2025, 2024)
- USTFCCCA All-Academic Team (2023-24)
- Dean’s List (2023)
- USTFCCCA First Team All-American (2024)
- USTFCCCA Second Team All-American (2025, 2023)
- Dutch National Champion – 110-Meter Hurdles (2024)
- No. 5 110-Meter Hurdler in LSU history at 13.37 seconds
- No. 6 60-Meter Hurdler in LSU history at 7.67 seconds
- Three-Year Letter Winner (2025, 2024, 2023)
- Representative of the Netherlands in International Competition (2021-present)
- Mentorship to Younger Athletes (2023-present)
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.
Last year’s McWhorter Award recipients were Mason Nichols of the Ole Miss baseball team and Abby McCulloh of the Georgia swimming and diving team.
