The NCAA News - News and Features

August 18, 1997

NCAA awards 12 women's postgraduate scholarships

The NCAA has awarded 12 postgraduate scholarships through the women's enhancement program.

The enhancement program, established in 1988 as a result of a recommendation of the Association's Committee on Women's Athletics, is designed to create better opportunities for women in coaching, athletics administration, officiating and athletics support services.

This year's postgraduate scholarships are being awarded to women who have completed an undergraduate degree and who are seeking admission or have been accepted into an NCAA member institution's sports administration program or a related program that will assist the applicant in obtaining a career in athletics.

To be considered for a postgraduate scholarship, applicants must express an interest in preparing for a professional career in athletics administration. The scholarships are for one year only and are valued at $6,000.

Applicants must be entering their first semester or term of their postgraduate studies and must have performed with distinction as student-body members at their respective undergraduate institutions. The applicants' involvement with extracurricular activities, course work, commitment to the pursuit of a career in intercollegiate athletics and promise for success in such a career also are factors in the selection process.

Five alternates have been named if one of the recipients is unable to accept the scholarship. They are Monique Michelle Clumsky of the University of Kansas; Gina Lynn Duensing of Nebraska Wesleyan University; Michelle Anne Borkhuis of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Courtney Catherine Schriever of Jacksonville University; and Jennifer Wiedeke of Kansas.

The accompanying biographical sketches of 1997 scholarship recipients indicate the institution awarding the undergraduate degree and, if different, the institution where the postgraduate scholarship likely will be used.

Tracy Margaret Bonner (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) -- An eight-time all-American diver, Bonner captured the three-meter title at the 1995 Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships and was voted Lady Volunteer Athlete of the Year. Bonner also is a two-time U.S. National Diving Team member and was an Olympic Trials finalist in 1996. She hopes to participate in the 2000 Olympic Games. A December 1996 graduate in exercise science, Bonner already has begun her postgraduate work in sports administration at Tennessee.

Jennifer Eileen Bruening (University of Notre Dame; Ohio State University) -- Bruening graduated from Notre Dame in 1992 with a degree in English and was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball. She coached a high-school volleyball team for a year before becoming an assistant coach at Morehead State University. Bruening then became head women's volleyball coach and senior woman administrator at Kenyon College. She obtained a master's degree in English at Morehead State in 1994 and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Ohio State's sports management program this fall.

Amy Elizabeth Giovanni (University of California, San Diego; University of Massachusetts, Amherst) -- Giovanni has been involved with the UC San Diego athletics department for most of her undergraduate career, starting as a student assistant to the sports information director and ending as an operations staff assistant with supervision responsibilities in all operations program areas. A Sears Directors' Cup postgraduate scholarship recipient, Giovanni plans to begin postgraduate study in sport management this fall.

Jennifer Robyn Gross (University of California, Davis; undecided) -- A four-year letterwinner in basketball at UC Davis, Gross captained the team in 1996-97 and twice earned all-Northern California Athletic Conference honors. She also was a three-time all-tournament selection in UC Davis' Aggie Invitational. Gross has worked as a student assistant to the athletics director at UC Davis since January 1996. She also has worked in the school's sports information department. She plans to obtain a postgraduate degree in business administration.

Kara Lynne Kehe (Wartburg College; University of Iowa) -- Kehe will begin postgraduate work in Iowa's sport and leisure management program this fall. While at Wartburg, Kehe was a two-time letterwinner in softball and earned all-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference academic honors in 1996. Kehe researched gender-equity issues in the IIAC -- specifically, how financial resources impacted the success of athletics programs. In addition, Kehe studied the administration of athletics departments, including recruiting and facilities management.

Kimberly Ann Mazza (Iowa State University; undecided) -- A prolific gymnast at Iowa State, Mazza holds school records in three events, including the all-around. She was named Iowa State's most valuable gymnast in 1996. Mazza has coached for four years at the Cardinal Gymnastics Academy and she aspires to coach gymnastics at the collegiate level. She plans to begin postgraduate study in sports administration this fall.

Niki Moeggenborg (Ferris State University; Central Michigan University) -- Moeggenborg already has begun postgraduate study in sports administration at Central Michigan. A varsity softball player at Ferris State, Moeggenborg was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's most valuable player in 1996. She also earned honorable-mention all-GLIAC recognition in basketball. She plans to concentrate on event management while at Central Michigan.

Susan Elaine Punzo (Central Missouri State University) -- A four-year letterwinner in softball at Central Missouri State, Punzo captained the team and was a two-time all-Midwest Intercollegiate Athletics Association selection at third base. She also is a three-time all-MIAA academic choice. She accepted an internship this summer with the Kansas City Explorers professional tennis club, where she will work in promotions, publications and event management. She will begin postgraduate study in sports business administration at Central Missouri State this fall.

Christina Ann Rivera (University of California, Irvine; University of Pennsylvania) -- Rivera was a four-year letterwinner in soccer at UC Irvine and a four-time all-Big West Conference scholar-athlete. She worked in the sports information office as the women's soccer contact. She also coordinated the school's peer academic advising program and chaired the academic advisory committee. In addition, Rivera has been an undergraduate research coordinator and teaching assistant. She will begin postgraduate study in educational policy this fall.

Jane Irene Skillman (Stanford University; University of Massachusetts, Amherst) -- Skillman was cocaptain of the Stanford swimming and diving team that won consecutive NCAA team titles from 1993 through 1996. She is a three-time gold medal winner in the Pan American Games and she also was the U.S. Open champion in the 800-meter freestyle in 1990. Skillman is a three-time Stanford scholar-athlete and an all-Pacific-10 Conference academic choice. She plans to study sport management at Massachusetts this fall.

Danielle Suzette Tiernan [Grand Valley State University; Wayne State University (Michigan)] -- Tiernan participated in basketball and track and field at Grand Valley State and was an all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference academic choice. A member of the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Tiernan represented student-athlete interests at the 1997 NCAA Convention. She will begin postgraduate study in sports administration at Wayne State (Michigan) this fall.

Kathryn Camille Vlah (Bucknell University; undecided) -- Vlah was a 1996 scholarship recipient, but deferred her award to this year. While at Bucknell, Vlah was a three-time captain of the women's basketball team and was named the team's most valuable player in 1993 and 1994. A three-time member of the Patriot League academic honor roll, Vlah also served as a member of Bucknell's Gender-Equity Committee President's Task Force and on the Student Committee for Review of New Faculty. She will begin her postgraduate studies in athletics administration this fall.