Northwestern State Pair Receive Southland McCarty Citizenship Awards
FRISCO, Texas – Northwestern State track and field student-athlete Ebenezer Aggrey and softball student-athlete Bronte Rhoden are the recipients of the 2022 Steve McCarty Citizenship Awards, Southland Conference Commissioner Chris Grant announced Tuesday.
The McCarty Award recognizes a male and female student-athlete who exhibit outstanding qualities in citizenship, sportsmanship, leadership and community service. The honor is named for the former Stephen F. Austin athletic director, who served at the school for 21 years, including 15 as athletic director. McCarty, an Alto, Texas, native, retired from SFA in 2005 and is a two-time graduate of the university. He is a member of the SFA Board of Regents and the SFA Alumni Association’s “Football Coaches Hall of Honor.” McCarty was inducted into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor in 2006.
Ebenezer Aggrey, Northwestern State Track & Field
After only two years at Northwestern State, Ebenezer Aggrey has already established himself as a campus leader and conference leader as recipient of the McCarty Citizenship Award. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Aggrey constantly cheers on and motivates his teammates, always serving as a constant source of support.
Since stepping foot on campus, Aggrey made a point to be involved in campus and community affairs. His determination has also led his track & field teammates to increased participation. Aggrey was responsible for organizing a canned food drives for the campus food pantry, toy drives for local Natchitoches youth and led a city-wide clean-up for the National Day of Service. Additionally, he is involved in the campus initiatives of “Swipe Out Hunger” to help those who are experiencing food insecurity, and the “Be the Match” campus drive to increase the number of students included in the national bone marrow registry. He is active in the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and will serve as vice president of the NSU student government in 2022-23.
On the track, he placed fifth in the 400m at the Southland Outdoor Track & Field Championships, while also earning points for the Demons as a member of the 4x400 relay.
Bronte Rhoden, Northwestern State Softball
Bronte Rhoden served as an active member of SAAC all four years of her Northwestern State career, including the past two years as president and Southland representative. She worked on numerous projects, including “Make A Child Smile,” hurricane relief drives for other conference schools, the adoption of a local elementary school and the annual Vic’s Choice Award.
When the advisors of the campus Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter resigned, Rhoden took the reins of the program to lead other student-athletes. She did all this while pitching all four seasons for the softball team and maintaining a stellar 4.0 GPA as a biology and nursing double major. A native of Plano, Texas, the Northwestern State and Natchitoches communities have been made better through her leadership.