SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Two Samford student-athletes were named the recipients of postgraduate scholarships from the Southern Conference when the league released its annual recipients Wednesday morning.
 
Fleming Dean from the soccer team won the SoCon Presidential Scholarship, while Darcy Nicholls from men's tennis, earned the William V. Moore Scholarship, presented by McMillan Pazdan Smith. A total of 10 student-athletes from the 10 SoCon schools were selected for the scholarships.
 
The scholarships, awarded annually, will be bestowed during the 2026 awards presentation at the J.W. Marriott Hotel Savannah Plant Riverside District on Wednesday evening as part of the conference's spring meetings.
 
Southern Conference member schools submit nominations, and the recipients are selected by the Southern Conference Graduate Scholar Committee. The scholarships are worth $2,000 each and are awarded to student-athletes who plan to pursue degrees in graduate school or professional school. The nominees are evaluated in three areas: academics, athletics, and community service.
 
Below is a bio on Samford's two scholarship winners.
 
Fleming Dean – Samford Women's Soccer
SoCon Presidential Scholarship
Samford women's soccer captain Fleming Dean paired elite academic achievement with championship success on the field. She helped Samford to back-to-back SoCon championships in 2024 and 2025, earning the Pinnacle Award and second-team All-SoCon honors this past season – all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA while majoring in accounting. Also a member of multiple Dean's Lists, she plans to pursue a Master of Accounting degree and CPA certification before beginning a career with a major accounting firm. Dean also served on Samford's Dean's Student Advisory Council, helping lead community outreach initiatives while demonstrating leadership as a team captain. 
 
Darcy Nicholls – Samford Men's Tennis
William V. Moore Scholarship presented by McMillan Pazdan Smith
Samford men's tennis standout Darcy Nicholls maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA while excelling as both a student and athlete. A back-to-back member of the SoCon Men's Tennis Championship squad in 2025 and 2026, Nicholls earned All-SoCon honors in singles and doubles once again. Nicholls earned the SoCon Pinnacle Award in both 2025 and 2026. He was also an ITA Scholar Athlete. Majoring in Law, Politics and Society and Political Science, he plans to pursue his law degree after competing professionally in tennis. Nicholls also volunteered extensively with special needs students and youth organizations, reflecting his commitment to service and leadership beyond athletics. He was named Samford's 2026 Mr. Bulldog Award winner, which exemplifies the true meaning of the term student-athlete.
 
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