The NCAA News - News and Features

August 17, 1998

NCAA awards 12 ethnic minority postgraduate scholarships

The NCAA has awarded 12 postgraduate scholarships through the ethnic minority enhancement program.

This is the 11th year of the program, which was established in 1987 as a result of a recommendation of the NCAA Council Subcommittee to Review Minority Opportunities in Intercollegiate Athletics. The program is aimed at creating better opportunities for ethnic minorities in coaching, athletics administration and officiating.

This year's postgraduate scholarships, awarded by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, are being presented to ethnic minority applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree and have been accepted into a sports administration program or related program to help applicants obtain a career in athletics.

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

The accompanying biographical sketches of 1998 scholarship recipients include the institutions awarding the recipient's undergraduate degree and, if differing, the institution where the postgraduate scholarship will likely be used.

Kian Joseph Azimian (University of California, Davis; University of Southern California) -- Azimian is a 1998 graduate of UC Davis, where he earned four letters in swimming, served as a research intern at the UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital and volunteered at a free clinic for underprivileged children. As an undergraduate, he was honored with the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Award, the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award and a citation of achievement from the Division of Biological Sciences. Azimian will attend medical school at Southern California.Diane M. Bell (Spelman College; Canisius College) -- Bell graduated from Spelman College in 1984 and has dedicated her career to athletics-related work. Prior to beginning work toward a master's degree in sports administration, she worked in sports information at Canisius, served as a high-school track coach and worked in community relations for the Atlanta Braves. Bell received a master's degree in business administration from Clark Atlanta University in 1993.

Spencer C. Booker (Mississippi Valley State University; Georgia State University) -- Booker graduated in May with a degree in health and physical education and a minor in biology. He was named Mississippi Valley State's 1997 Most Outstanding Student and a president's scholar. He was an intern for Mississippi Valley State's National Youth Sports Program and Greenwood-Leflore Hospital. Booker will pursue a master's degree in athletics administration from Georgia State.

Marc Allen Brown(Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; University of Connecticut) -- Before studying for an undergraduate degree in health and physical education, Brown spent five years as a financial and supply manager for the U.S. Marine Corps. He was 1997 Homecoming King and has served as an intercultural diplomat for three years. Brown will study sports management at Connecticut.

Monica Lynnette Clayton (Carson-Newman College; University of Tennessee, Knoxville) -- As an undergraduate English and communication arts major, Clayton worked in the sports information office and admissions at Carson-Newman. She was elected president of Mortar Board and authored "More than a Coach," which was published by Sharing the Victory in April 1997. She will attend Tennessee in pursuit of a sports administration postgraduate degree.Takiyah Aina Gettys (Old Dominion University; undecided) --Gettys studied sports management while playing lacrosse at Old Dominion. She earned the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award, was named Colonial Athletic Association Scholar Athlete three times and was a two-time Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches academic all-American. She volunteered for a YES Clinic and was a student-athlete mentor. Gettys has not declared a field of study or a university for postgraduate work.Tiffany Gooden (University of Iowa; University of Iowa College of Law) -- The 1995 Big Ten Freshman of the Year for women's basketball graduated in May with a degree in communication studies. Gooden was 1994 Miss Basketball in Indiana and Parade Magazine and Naismith National High School Player of the Year. She volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She will study law in graduate school.

Quo Mieko Judkins (Mills College; undecided) -- In 1996, Judkins became the first woman in Mills College history to advance to an NCAA national championship. She was most valuable cross country/track athlete three times before graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in government. She worked as a recreation leader for the city of Berkeley, California, and for the YMCA. Judkins will pursue a master's degree in sports medicine or physical education.

Lonn K.Kalama (University of Hawaii at Manoa) -- As a tight end for Hawaii, Kalama was twice named a Western Athletic Conference scholar-athlete while pursuing an undergraduate degree in Spanish and political science. He utilized his Spanish skills on a two-year ecclesiastical mission to Santiago, Chile. Kalama plans to study athletics administration or education administration at Hawaii.Mark Papadopoulos [Sonoma State University; St. Mary's College (California)] -- A member of Sonoma State and San Diego State's baseball halls of fame, Papadopoulos has worked in public relations for the West Coast Conference for the past year. He initiated a sports information department at Sacramento City College and earned runner-up in the Collegiate Publications Contest for a wrestling media guide. He will study health, physical education and recreation at St. Mary's (California).

Jason Slaiken (University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire; University of Wisconsin Medical School) -- Slaiken is a four-time NCAA all-American and won both the indoor and outdoor NCAA titles in the high jump. The recent graduate of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, studied biology while chairing the student-athlete advisory committee, tutoring other students in math and volunteering in an emergency room. Slaiken will attend medical school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Chemar Smith (George Washington University; undecided) -- The 1997 NCAA all-American helped George Washington's soccer team to an NCAA tournament berth. Smith, a four-time all-conference selection and 1994 Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Year, owns school records for most goals as a freshman and in a career. She was an undergraduate exercise science major and will study physical therapy at the graduate level.