SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its ten postgraduate scholarship recipients for the 2025-26 academic year on Wednesday. Wofford's Kerrington Johnson (track and field) and Brandon Maina (football) were among the ten recipients.
 
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.
 
The 2025-2026 honorees include: Richard Johnson Graduate Scholarship recipient Kerrington Mariah Johnson (Wofford); Dave Hart Scholarship recipient Brandon Maina (Wofford); Bob McCloskey Insurance Scholarship recipients Lena Dykes (Mercer) and Colton Sessoms (UNC Greensboro); Dorothy Hicks Scholarship recipient Brianna Cantrell (ETSU); David Knight Scholarship recipient Taylor Waitley (Western Carolina); William V. Moore Scholarship presented by McMillan Pazdan Smith recipient Darcy Nicholls (Samford); Ingles Presidential Scholarship recipient Landy Green (Western Carolina); and SoCon Presidential Scholarship recipients Fleming Dean (Samford) and Skylar Hilmer (Furman).
 
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.
 
Kerrington Mariah Johnson – Wofford Track & Field
Richard Johnson Graduate Scholarship
Wofford track and field standout Kerrington Johnson built an exceptional career marked by academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community leadership. The SoCon Freshman of the Year in 2021, Johnson garnered 14 All-SoCon honors, nine conference titles individually and two relay titles during her career with the Terriers. Also a school record holder in the hurdles, Johnson maintained a 3.91 GPA while majoring in finance. She plans to pursue a master's degree in health education and behavior at the University of Florida with aspirations of improving community wellness and healthcare access. Beyond athletics, Johnson served in numerous campus leadership and mentoring roles while dedicating extensive time to volunteerism and student support initiatives.
 
Brandon Maina – Wofford Football
Dave Hart Scholarship
Wofford football standout Brandon Maina combined athletic excellence with a passion for healthcare and service while majoring in finance with an accounting minor. A three-time All-SoCon selection with 19.5 career sacks – good for fifth in Wofford history – Maina will pursue an MBA before attending medical school with the goal of becoming a physician for underserved communities. He balanced football with healthcare administration experience, medical volunteer work, and leadership roles within Wofford's student-athlete organizations. Maina's commitment to community impact and healthcare advocacy reflects his long-term goal of improving access to quality care. In 2025, Maina ranked fourth nationally in sacks per game and earned a spot on the prestigious FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team.