The NCAA News - News & Features

Ten scholarships awarded through ethnic-minority enhancement program

The enhancement program, established in 1987 as a result of a recommendation of the NCAA Council Subcommittee to Review Minority Opportunities in Intercollegiate Athletics, is aimed at creating better opportunities for ethnic minorities in coaching, athletics administration and officiating.

This year's postgraduate scholarships are being awarded to ethnic-minority applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree and have been accepted into an institution's sports administration program or a related program that will assist the applicants in obtaining a career in athletics.

Recipients must express an interest in preparing for a professional career in administration of athletics. The scholarships are for one year and are valued at $6,000.

In addition to selecting this year's scholarship recipients, the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee has named Darryl Leonard Franklin of American University; Rodd Jason Melton of the University of Central Oklahoma; Tara Christine Nieves of Florida State University; Bernice Simpson of Tennessee State University; and Kimberly Rochelle Wyatt of the University of Memphis as alternates.

The accompanying biographical sketches of 1996 scholarship recipients include the institution awarding the undergraduate degree and, if different, the institution where the postgraduate scholarship likely will be used.

Sheila Inez Benton (St. Augustine's College; Florida State University) -- A May 1987 graduate of St. Augustine's, Benton obtained a master's degree in sports administration from Grambling State University and is a candidate for a Ph.D. in sports administration at Florida State. Benton captained the volleyball team while at St. Augustine's and was voted the school's most outstanding student in 1986. She currently is a compliance and student-services assistant at Florida State and is a member of several professional organizations, including the Black Coaches Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Janine Leila Bethea (St. Augustine's College; undecided) -- One of two enhancement-program award recipients from St. Augustine's, Bethea graduated magna cum laude in May 1995 with a degree in physical education. Recognized as the top scholar on the women's basketball team at St. Augustine's, Bethea also was involved in tutoring other student-athletes, assisting in scheduling their coursework, monitoring academic progress and helping with personal problems. She has worked for America Online, Inc., and Cellular One. She intends to earn a master's degree in sports management from either Ohio State University or Florida State University.

Joyleigh Shawntelle Gaston (Shaw University; University of Toledo) -- Gaston graduated in May with a degree in kinesiotherapy and was a participant on Shaw's softball and volleyball teams. She was Shaw's head student athletic trainer and served stints in several local rehabilitation and therapy centers, where she supervised patients in cardiac and cancer rehabilitation and cared for patients with injuries or disabling conditions. In addition, Gaston served as a parliamentarian within Shaw's Student Government Association and was awarded a presidential scholarship. She intends to pursue a master's degree in sports medicine at Toledo beginning this fall.

Kevin Lamonte Hatcher (University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Michigan) -- A 1992 graduate, Hatcher earned a degree in communications from UC Santa Barbara and was a member of the school's club basketball team. He attended California Lutheran University before that, starring in track and field from 1988 through 1990. Hatcher currently is serving a compliance internship at Michigan, after which he will pursue a master's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports management and communication. Hatcher also has served as a residential counselor for a local support group that develops and implements treatment plans for emotionally disturbed adolescents.

Elton Odok Ndoma-Ogar (Wake Forest University; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) -- Ogar was a four-year football starter at Wake Forest and was a Football News 1995 all-Atlantic Coast Conference lineman. A member of the College Football Association's "Good Works Team" in 1995, Ndoma-Ogar also was a four-time all-ACC academic choice and a five-time Wake Forest academic excellence award winner. He graduated in May with a degree in health and sport science. Ndoma-Ogar served as Wake Forest's assistant strength and conditioning coordinator for two summers and spent last summer completing a marketing and advertising internship at a Winston-Salem telecommunications firm. He will pursue a postgraduate degree in sports administration at North Carolina beginning this fall.

Ebony Racquel Robinson (University of Florida; undecided) -- A two-time captain of the Gators track and field squad, Robinson is a four-time all-American in the 400-meter dash and the 1,600-meter relay. She also is an all-Southeastern Conference academic selection and a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award for achievement in athletics and academics. A May graduate with a degree in psychology, Robinson has served as an intern and a biological research assistant with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She intends to begin postgraduate studies in sports psychology or sports law this fall at either Florida or Ohio State University.

Luisa Lee Tam (Texas Tech University; University of Texas at Austin) -- A four-year participant on Texas Tech's cross country and track and field teams, Tam captained both squads and was the cross country team's most valuable player. She also was a GTE Academic All-America selection and an all-district cross country performer. In addition, Tam served as a long-distance tutor, assisting other student-athletes with techniques, training and mechanics. She graduated in May with a degree in human development and plans to pursue a degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports administration at Texas beginning next spring.

Kenneth Tubilleja (University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Springfield College) -- Currently a graduate assistant in the athletics counseling program at Springfield, Tubilleja is pursuing a master's degree in counseling and psychological services with a concentration in athletics counseling. He obtained an undergraduate degree in psychology in 1994 from UNLV, where he was a dean's honors list student and recipient of an undergraduate research award. At Springfield, Tubilleja is involved in the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, having worked to develop graduate and undergraduate level life skills courses. He expects to graduate from Springfield next May.

Carole Ann Walker (Shaw University; North Carolina State University) -- Walker was a three-sport participant at Shaw, earning letters in volleyball, basketball and softball. She obtained her degree in business administration in 1993. She was voted captain of the volleyball team and was named that squad's most valuable player in 1992. She has served for the past two years as a correctional officer at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. She will begin postgraduate work this fall at North Carolina State, where she intends to pursue a degree in counseling education with a concentration in athletics academic counseling and advising.

Melanie LeAnne Young (Iowa State University; University of Iowa) -- Young recently completed an internship at the NCAA national office, where her duties included auditing NCAA championships financial reports, National Youth Sports Program reports and sports-sponsorship reports for the finance and business administration group. She is currently enrolled at Iowa, where she is pursuing a master's degree in business administration. She earned an undergraduate degree in English at Iowa State, where she was a four-year participant on the women's basketball team. She also was an assistant to the athletics director at Iowa State, assisting in scheduling and travel arrangements for selected women's sports teams.