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** During the month of July EIUpanthers.com will take a look back at 13 moments, events or performances that helped shape the 2015-16 school year. **

Nick Smith was one of three male finalists for the NCAA's Walter Byers Scholarship, which is awarded to one recently graduated NCAA male and female student-athlete in late April. Smith finished his soccer career for the Panthers and will attend medical school at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall of 2016.

The Walter Byers Scholarship program is a scholarship program that recognizes the top male and female scholar-athlete in NCAA sports. It is considered to be the NCAA's highest academic award. Initiated in 1988, the award is a postgraduate scholarship program designed to encourage excellence in academic performance by student-athletes. The recipients each year are the one male and one female student-athlete who has combined the best elements of mind and body to achieve national distinction for his or her achievements, and who promises to be a future leader in his or her chosen field of career service. 

A four-year letter winner with the EIU soccer team, Smith appeared in 53 matches playing in the midfield and defensive backfield.  He holds a 4.0 grade point average in biology / pre-med with a minor in neuroscience.  Smith was selected to the Summit League Distinguished Scholar list three times.  On the field Smith had two career goals coming against Omaha and Evansville.  He added three career assists. 

Off the field Smith was very active as a member of the Eastern Illinois Student-Athlete Advisory Committee serving as President his final two years.  He was instrumental in helping organize the annual Jock-N-Roll event which raises money to send EIU military veterans to the Ohio Valley Conference basketball tournament.  As a member of the men's soccer team he helped organize youth activity days at local schools providing a message on the importance of physical activity and good nutrition as part of being a successful student.   In the classroom he has excelled in his major earning College of Sciences Dean's List honors and serving as President of the pre-medical society AED.  He has won several grants, academic awards and scholarships including the Errett Warner / P. Hinz Pre-Med Award this spring. 
 
Smith became the second finalist from Eastern Illinois joining former baseball player Brian Morrell who was a finalist in 2010.  At this year's EIU Awards banquet he was named the winner of the EIU Athletic Director's Award.