Media Center Corbin McGuire
Katelin Isakoff and Mason Nichols have been named the 2025 recipients of the Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship, one of the NCAA’s highest academic honors.
Isakoff, a former standout swimmer at Tufts, is now pursuing her medical degree at Stanford. Nichols, who pitches for the Ole Miss baseball team, will enter medical school after his graduation in May.
Established in 1988, the Walter Byers Scholarship program annually awards $24,000 scholarships to one male and one female student-athlete. The scholarship, which may be renewed for a second year, honors those who combine excellence in academics and athletics and show potential as future leaders.
Isakoff was a two-time NCAA champion, eight-time All-American and multiple-time conference champion during her time at Tufts. She helped lead the Jumbos to their first two New England Small College Athletic Conference team championships. Academically, she graduated summa cum laude, doing so in seven semesters, and was named a first-team Academic All-American in 2023.
A leader in and out of the pool, Isakoff founded and served as president of the Tufts chapter of The Hidden Opponent, a national nonprofit focused on destigmatizing student-athlete mental health. She also served as a volunteer EMT, conducted clinical and community-based research, and mentored students through Big Brothers Big Sisters, as well as Tufts’ preorientation program.
Isakoff noted in her application essay for the scholarship how her personal and professional experiences solidified her desire to pursue a career in medicine, with goals of advancing health equity, exploring the field of orthopedics and advocating for female athletes. As part of Stanford’s Leadership in Health Disparities Program, she is already laying the foundation for a career centered on inclusive patient care and systemic change.
“As a physician, I hope to combine my passion for athletics with my understanding of the influence of mental health on physical health, along with the impact of illness on long-term well-being,” Isakoff said in her essay. “I am prepared to excel within the rigor of medical education because of my success balancing the responsibilities of a student-athlete. In the face of challenges that a career in medicine will bring, I will maintain the same distinctive resiliency and dedication that led to my athletic and academic achievements.”
Nichols has been a mainstay in the Rebels’ starting rotation this season, making a start in every weekend series so far. In nine starts, he has posted an ERA of 4.54 while striking out 41 batters over 35.2 innings of work. On March 2 in a start against Wright State, Nichols struck out a career-high 10 hitters and is one of only two Rebel pitchers to reach double-digit strikeouts in a game this season.
The Mississippi native has been with the Rebels for all four seasons of his career, appearing in 70 games to date, more than any other pitcher on staff. He was a key contributor for Ole Miss in 2022, when the Rebels won the College World Series, making 21 appearances as a freshman.
Off the field, Nichols was named a 2025 Taylor Medal recipient — the highest academic honor at Ole Miss — and will graduate with a degree biological sciences in May. A three-year team representative on the Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Nichols’ community involvement included volunteering at events for individuals with special needs, church activities to help the elderly, and team projects to assist low-income families.
Nichols credits college baseball with shaping his approach to leadership, resilience and service. His experience competing at the highest level taught him how to navigate pressure, earn trust and lead with consistency — qualities he plans to carry into his medical career. He sees strong parallels between the discipline and teamwork required on the field and the demands of health care, especially in underserved communities. As a future physician, Nichols is committed to improving access to care in Mississippi and mentoring the next generation of medical professionals in his home state.
“Success in college sports demands courage,” Nichols wrote. “I expect that the courage needed to conquer daunting moments on the diamond will be the same courage needed to solve big issues in my community.”
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