MOBILE, Ala. – After being named the Jaguar Male Student-Athlete of the Year in April, Tuki Jacobs (Windhoek, Namibia) added to his University of South Alabama accomplishments by earning three endowed scholarships for the upcoming academic year, highlighting the honorees announced Tuesday.

Sean Collins (Mobile, Ala.), Danielle Henley (Hattiesburg, Miss.), and Juan Cruz Soria (San Juan, Argentina) also claimed athletic department scholarships, while Joey Jones (Trussville, Ala.), Laura Labuschaigne (Durbanville, Western Cape, South Africa) and Scott McInnerney (Pickerington, Ohio) will receive sport /department program awards.

Jacobs concluded his four-year career by qualifying for the NCAA Singles Championship, finishing with a 24-7 singles record and 17-11 mark in doubles while rating among the top 75 in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association's singles rankings.  He was voted the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season, and also named first-team all-league in singles.  Jacobs will receive the Jimmy Taylor Scholarship Award (presented to a student-athlete who has exhausted eligibility, maintained an outstanding GPA and achieved significant athletic accomplishment), the Jim and Carol Statter Scholarship Award (presented to a student-athlete who holds a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA, has completed their NCAA eligibility, must be within two semesters of completing undergraduate degree and receiving no other scholarship assistance; academics, activities and leadership are considered when awarding) and the Wilson Durgin Award (presented to a deserving minority student-athlete who has excelled in both the classroom and competition).

Collins claimed the title in the men's pole vault at both the Sun Belt Indoor and Outdoor Championships this spring, going on to earn first-team All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship after placing eighth in the event.  Since coming to USA in the fall of 2015, the sophomore has been first-team all-conference on four occasions while also garnering first-team All-American distinction at the NCAA Indoor Championship as a freshman.  He is set to receive the Shirley Holt Scholarship Award presented to a student-athlete who has exemplified "Team Spirit" and who has shown great character and concern for his or her fellow student-athletes.

The Corcoran Scholar-Athlete Endowed Scholarship — given to a USA junior who most excels in both sports and academic achievement; the student-athlete who receives the award is an outstanding competitor in his/her sport and maintains at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average — will go to Henley in the fall.  A second-team all-SBC selection after recording three goals and three assists for the Jaguar soccer team last year, she helped South go 15-6-1 overall and 7-3 in Sun Belt play in claiming its third consecutive conference regular-season championship and making the program's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in a row.

Soria earned the Denny-Gottfried Scholarship Award following his first season with the Jaguars, which is presented to a student-athlete who holds a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, has completed their NCAA eligibility, and with the assistance of the fund will graduate from USA within two consecutive semesters.  The senior posted a 27-9 mark in singles action and also went 20-13 in doubles, not only receiving first-team all-league accolades in singles and doubles but picking up the SBC Newcomer-of-the-Year honors as well.  In splitting time at the No. 1 and No. 2 singles positions, Soria helped the Jags go 23-6 while advancing to the finals of the conference tournament.

After making 18 relief appearances — striking out 16 in 15 innings, posting a 3.00 earned-run average — and helping the Jaguar baseball team go 40-21 while winning the Sun Belt tournament title and advancing to the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional, Jones was selected to receive the Forrest W. and Beverly B. Crowder Endowed Scholarship for Baseball.  Laubschaigne was chosen as the recipient of the McKinney Family Endowed Scholarship Fund for Track and Field Award after a season that saw her pick up first-team all-SBC honors in cross country and third-team all-conference recognition at the league's indoor championship before an injury ended her outdoor campaign prematurely.  The George Smith Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund Award, which goes to an outstanding student with an interest in pursuing a career in either sports journalism or radio/television journalism with an emphasis on sports reporting or sports information, will go to McInnerney for the second straight year.

Winners of the Clifton Inge Endowed Scholarship for Baseball and the Mayer Mitchell Quarterback Endowment Fund Award will be announced at a later date.

Join the Jaguar Athletic Fund (JAF) Priority Fund, the unrestricted giving option of the University of South Alabama Athletics.  Contributions to the Priority Fund directly support all 17 sports in addition to various support programming. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/priorityfund

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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