FRISCO, Texas – McNeese's Rylee Eyster and UIW's Nick Meehan have earned this year's Southland Steve McCarty Citizenship Awards, the conference office announced Thursday.
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.
Eyster and Meehan were chosen by the Southland Conference Awards Committee from a pool of nominees from across the league.
Rylee Eyster, McNeese Softball
A team captain this past season, Eyster has been described by her coaches as one who "carries herself like a professional" and a consistent human being. Eyster held a 4.0 GPA in Mass Communication, earning a spot on the Commissioner's Honor Roll the last three years. She supplements those studies in her pursuit of a minor in Communication Studies, Digital and Social Creation and Psychology all while being a part of the Honor's College. She will be engaged with the Savannah Bananas through an internship this summer.
Eyster has major involvement of McNeese's Fellowship of Christian Athletes while contributing in the athletic department with on-air resposibilities for broadcasted events. She earned McNeese's Community Impact Student Athlete Of The Year award chosen by the McNeese Athletic Administration.
Eyster led all female student athletes at McNeese in community service hours, volunteering for a number of events and programs including Southwest LA OOTD Walk, Buddy Ball, Little League Camp, Trunk or Treat and the local Food Pantry among these. She has also been nominated to the position of McNeese's SAAC President for the coming academic semester.
This past season Eyster played in 42 games, 13 of which she started, scoring 12 runs and stealing four bases.
Nick Meehan, UIW Football
Meehan served as the treasurer and president of the Student Government Association as well as a Resident Assistant, law clerk intern and president of the Pre-Law Society. He remained engaged with these responsibilities while majoring in Business/Accounting with a Pre-Law minor, and a future at Baylor Law on a full tuition scholarship.
He earned the 2025 CCVI Spirit Award at UIW, reflecting the mission and spirit of the Sisters of Charity. Meehan headed several events such as Golden Harvest, which collected 6,000 pounds of food to support students and families facing food insecurity in the San Antonio area. He volunteered with Church Under the Bridge, serving meals and distributing clothing to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Through the VITA Program, he was able to assist low- to moderate-income individuals with tax preparation services, offering real, tangible support to vulnerable populations. As the President of the Pre-Law Society, they expanded access to legal education resources by developing a free LSAT prep course for underprivileged students.