Eric Single Awarded 2009 Russell-Rice
TRA Scholarship

June 10, 2009 - Eric Single will enter the freshman class at Vanderbilt University as the 2009 recipient of the Fred Russell-Grantland Rice TRA Scholarship for sports writing, it was announced by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA).

Single, who graduated from George Walton Comprehensive High School in Marietta, Ga., this spring, is the 51st winner of the scholarship instituted by the TRA in 1956. He was one of 72 applicants for this year’s stipend, which covers full tuition at Vanderbilt for four years.

Named in honor of two legendary sports writing alumni of Vanderbilt, the scholarship has an extraordinary record of producing prominent and successful writers and television personalities, including Roy Blount, Jr., Bill Livingston, Skip Bayless, John (Joe Bob Briggs) Bloom, David Sheinin, Tyler Kepner, Lee Jenkins, and Daniel Wolken.

Single has been very active in sports, playing hockey early on before focusing on baseball, basketball, swimming, and varsity track. He also found time to participate in the marching band, junior Civitan club, and Key Club in high school. Sports have been the topic of nearly every English paper in which he was given the choice of topic. He was a National Merit Finalist and has taken numerous AP classes.

While at Vanderbilt, he plans to explore various academic paths, including English, economics, and history, while also participating in intramural and club sports. His dream is to follow his interest in sport journalism into a career with ESPN.

The scholarship winners, selected by a panel chaired by Oaklawn Park President Charles J. Cella, have distinguished themselves not just in sports writing and broadcasting, but in other fields as well.

The four-year scholarship is co-sponsored by Vanderbilt University and the TRA and is awarded to an outstanding high school senior with special interest and potential in the field of sports writing. The TRA represents 49 member racing associations conducting Thoroughbred racing at 42 racetracks in North America.

The scholarship honors Vanderbilt alumni Grantland Rice and Fred Russell, two of the greatest sports writers of all time. Initially, the scholarship was created in 1956 to honor Grantland Rice, the dean of American sports writing, who died in 1954. The scholarship received a funding endowment from Mr. Cella on behalf of the TRA in 1986, and its name was amended to include the late Fred Russell, the famed Nashville Banner sports columnist for 69 years and a mentor to many of the scholarship winners.