The NCAA News - News and Features

April 28, 1997

Finalists selected for NACDA postgraduate scholarships

Fifteen finalists for the annual NACDA Preseason Games Scholar-Athlete Postgraduate Scholarships were announced recently by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

The finalists were chosen from 256 nominees from sports other than football. Earlier this year, 20 football finalists were selected -- 10 from NCAA Division I-A institutions and 10 from non-Division I-A institutions.

These 35 finalists now be reviewed by NACDA's Blue Ribbon Committee, which includes prominent figures in athletics. The committee will review the finalists and select 10 winners who will each receive a $5,000 grant to be used toward postgraduate studies.

The total of $50,000 in scholarships is funded by proceeds from NACDA's two preseason football games, the Kickoff and Pigskin Classics.

The winners will receive their awards at NACDA's 32nd annual convention June 15-18. The NACDA Scholarship Awards Luncheon will be June 17.

The 15 finalists (with institution and sport) are Christina Burness, Texas Tech, volleyball; Amy Carter, Emory, soccer; Lisa Coole, Georgia, swimming; Carrie Ferguson, Capital, basketball; Kimberly Haskell, UC Davis, soccer; Julie Hinrichs, Mount Mary, track and field; Kimberly Hirai, Indiana, diving; William Junius III, Tulane, track and field; Seamus Lonergan, Dartmouth, basketball; Neil Niemi, Ohio State, gymnastics; Julie Roe, Millikin, basketball; Ann Sieckert, Augustana (South Dakota), volleyball; Jacque Vaughn, Kansas, basketball; Meredith Willard, Alabama, gymnastics; and Travis Young, New Mexico, baseball.

Athletes from all sports are eligible for these awards. To be nominated, a student-athlete is required to have a minimum grade-point average of 3.000 (4.000 scale) in undergraduate study and must have been named to at least the all-America or all-conference team in their respective sports.