Alyssa Weiszer
By Alan Schmadtke
DALLAS — Alyssa Weiszer, a senior at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Ga., was named as the 28th winner of the Volney Meece Scholarship.
The FWAA gives the scholarship annually in the name of the late Volney Meece, who served as the FWAA’s executive director for 22 years and was the organization’s president in 1971. The scholarship comes with a four-year annual grant of $1,000. The FWAA awards it to the child of an FWAA member or College Sports Communicator who is already in college or ready to start college. Student FWAA members are also eligible for the grant.
Alyssa, 17, is the daughter of FWAA member Marc Weiszer, who covers the University of Georgia for the Athens Banner-Herald. She is the second member of her family to win the scholarship. Her brother, Jacob Weiszer, was the 2021 recipient. Jacob, a junior at the University of Georgia, is majoring in Management Information Systems and International Affairs and expects to graduate in 2026.
“It’s always about competition between me and him,” Alyssa said. “I wanted to match him.”
The Weiszers are the second siblings to have won the Meece Scholarship. Sisters Sarah Shatel and Kate Shatel of Omaha, Neb., also received the four-year award.
Alyssa is an A student with a weighted GPA of 4.29 with a dual enrollment at Georgia. Her academic achievements include four years of All-A Honor Roll membership and being a two-time nominee for the Georgia Governor's Honors Program.
She won first place for sports column writing in the Southern Interscholastic Press Association Awards in 2024. She was also recognized for an All-Georgia Podcast and an All-Georgia Documentary by the Georgia Scholastic Press Association Awards in 2023. She is also managing editor for the school newspaper.
Her journalism includes first-person accounts of her journey dealing with an eating disorder.
“I don’t feel the need to hide it because people need to know,” she said. “I want to normalize it.”
Her education about the issue has focused her academic plans. She plans to pursue a degree in sports nutrition and health. She has not yet selected a college destination.
Athletically at Cedar Shoals, Alyssa is a captain of this year’s soccer team and was a 2024 postseason second-team All-Region pick. She also plays flag football.
Other extracurricular activities also include participating in the marching band, the math club, Model UN and the Beta Club. She is this year’s vice president for her school’s Student Government Association.
The FWAA is a collection of journalists, broadcasters, publicists of college football and key executives involved in all aspects of the sport. It was founded in 1941 and consists largely of members across North America who cover college football for a living. A 501-c-6 nonprofit organization, the FWAA works to help govern areas that include game-day operations and postseason awards. In addition to the Volney Meece Scholarship, the FWAA also sponsors an All-America team, an All-Freshman team, and an annual writing contest. If you have a question regarding membership, please contact FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson at tigerfwaa@gmail.com.
Previous Volney Meece Scholarship Recipients
1997: Brett Goering, Topeka, Kan.
1998: Kelly Brooks, Denver, Colo.
1999: James Butz, Schaumberg, Ill.
2000: Sara Barnhart, Atlanta, Ga.
2001: Patrick Davis, Coventry, Conn.
2002: Jacqueline O’Toole, Gaithersburg, Md.
2003: Garrett Holtz, Denver, Colo.
2004: Katie Hersom, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2005: Katie Wieberg, Lawson, Mo.
2006: Kaylynn Monroe, Winter Park, Fla.
2007: Nate Kerkhoff, Overland Park, Kan.
2008: Jack Caywood, Lawrence, Kan.
2009: Haley Dodd, Overland Park, Kan.
2010: Donald Hunt, Philadelphia, Pa.
2011: Alaina Martens, Papillion, Neb.
2012: Emily Alford, Tupelo, Miss.
2013: Sarah Helsley, Edmond, Okla.
2014: Robert Abramson, Palos Verde, Calif.
2015: Danielle Hoover, Tulsa, Okla.
2016: Dolen Helwagen, Pataskala, Ohio
2017: Elizabeth Schroeder, Norman, Okla.
2018: Mallory Rosetta, Baton Rouge, La.
2019: Alexandra Haley, Hamilton, N.J.
2020: Sarah Shatel, Omaha, Neb.
2021: Jacob Weiszer, Athens, Ga.
2022: Kate Shatel, Omaha, Neb.
2023: Cade Huffman, Riverside, Wash.