The NCAA News - News and Features

May 26, 1997

More finalists named for NACDA postgraduate scholarships

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

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

These 35 finalists now are being reviewed by NACDA's Blue Ribbon Committee, which consists of some of the top figures in the athletics world. The committee will select 10 winners who each will receive a $5,000 grant to be used toward postgraduate studies.

The $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 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 Marty, 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.

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.