The NCAA has awarded 12 postgraduate scholarships and named three alternates through the Ethnic Minority Enhancement Program, which was established in 1987 to create 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 2000 scholarship recipients include the institutions awarding the recipient's undergraduate degree and, if different, the institution where the postgraduate scholarship likely will be used.

Michael Bruny (Hartwick College; University of Massachusetts, Amherst)

A football and track and field athlete, Bruny graduated from Hartwick with a degree in psychology. In addition to his participation in many philanthropic campus organizations, he was president of Gamma Omega Delta fraternity. Currently an administrative intern with Syracuse University's athletics department, Bruny has been the assistant tournament director for several Big East Conference and NCAA athletics events. He will pursue a master's degree in a dual sports and business administration program at Massachusetts.

Nigel Burton (University of Washington; University of South Florida)

According to Burton, his appointment to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee in 1997 "forever changed my life." In addition to lobbying for the creation of a conference SAAC, he later chaired the national committee and captained his Washington football team. A third-team all-Pacific-10 Conference pick from 1996-98, Burton's athletics success matched his academic promise. He was a three-time all-district academic selection. He graduated in 1999 with a degree in business administration and plans to earn a master's degree in the same discipline at South Florida.

Catrina DaLuz (California State University, San Bernardino; undecided)

DaLuz graduated in 2000 with a degree in kinesiology from Cal State San Bernardino, where she was a standout player and four-year captain of the softball team. She was the president of the student-athlete council and active in community service. DaLuz plans to take her leadership skills to the next level by pursuing a master's degree in sports management.

Amie Dillman (University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Springfield College)

After suffering career-ending injuries as a gymnast at Nebraska, Dillman continued to stay active in athletics and graduated with a degree in psychology. She was an honorable mention all-Big 12 Conference academic selection in 1997 and a member of the conference honor roll from 1997-99. In order to accomplish her goal of "developing student-athletes' careers and empowering them with the kind of confidence and knowledge needed for the future," Dillman plans to pursue a master's degree in athletics counseling at Springfield this fall.

Sheryl George (Spelman College; Georgia State University)

This former dean's list and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority member graduated from Spelman in 1990 with a degree in economics. Since then, she has interned for the Georgia State Athletics Association and, more recently, the NCAA. While at the NCAA, George worked with both the public affairs and the education services groups. She will pursue her master's degree in sports administration at Georgia State.

Kyle Johnson (Ithaca College; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)

Johnson earned his degree in sports management this year from Ithaca, where he was a member of the baseball team and an active member of the campus community. He received numerous scholarships for his academic and extracurricular efforts. Johnson plans to help student-athletes achieve athletics, academic and lifetime success by becoming a collegiate athletics director. He will pursue his master's degree in sports administration at North Carolina.

Howard Kong (Vanderbilt University; Arizona State University)

A 1998 graduate of Vanderbilt with a degree in mathematics, Kong interned with the PGA Tour and then with the marketing, licensing and promotions staff at the NCAA national office. He assisted with numerous Association efforts such as corporate partner ticket requests, the promotion to name the Men's and Women's College Cups, championships selection shows and program administration for the 2000 NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference. Kong will pursue his master's degree in sports administration at Arizona State beginning this fall.

Kwabena Mensa (Rice University; University of Texas at Austin)

Mensa's academic success resulted in numerous university and conference academic awards, including the Arthur Ashe Jr. Minority Excellence Award in 1999. As a member of Rice's track and field team, Mensa used his spare time to volunteer in the community and act as vice-president of the Black Student Association. He also interned in the areas of exercise science and sports medicine. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in kinesiology and plans to pursue his master's degree in the same discipline at Texas.

Maisha Rachel Palmer (St. Joseph's University; undecided)

While completing her degree in history and captaining the track and field team at St. Joseph's, Palmer volunteered her time on campus as a mentor to minorities and incoming freshman. She also served as a representative to an NCAA committee on equity issues and as an intern with the Atlantic 10 Conference. To achieve her goal of working in collegiate athletics, Palmer will pursue her master's degree in a sports-related degree program.

Charlene Rutland (Paine College; undecided)

A three-sport athlete (basketball, cross country and track and field) and the recipient of a full academic scholarship at Paine, Rutland used her spare time to volunteer on her campus and in her community. She was a volunteer with the Medical College of Georgia's physical therapy department and cancer unit, treasurer of the Alpha Kappa Mu honor society and was involved in her school's student/mentor program. She graduated in 2000 with a degree in biology. Rutland plans to earn her master's degree in physical therapy.

Chemar Smith (George Washington University; Touro College)

Smith was the rookie of the year for the Atlantic 10 Conference and an all-conference and all-American selection in women's soccer at George Washington, where she majored in exercise science. To expand her knowledge in that field, Smith interned at several health care facilities on her campus and in the surrounding community. Her leadership roles included team captain, student-athlete advisory board representative and membership in the Caribbean Students Association. She received her undergraduate degree in 1998 and currently is enrolled in the physical therapy program at Touro.

DaTechia Specht (University of Texas at El Paso; University of Houston)

A 2000 graduate with a degree in kinesiology, Specht was a member of the UTEP women's basketball team and a Western Athletic Conference scholar-athlete. She volunteered in the UTEP athletics department and served as the community-service leader for the student-athlete advisory committee. Specht plans to expand her knowledge of collegiate athletics by obtaining her master's degree in sports administration from UTEP beginning this fall.

Alternates

Tanya Bolden (University of Mississippi)

Bolden graduated in 2000 with a degree in exercise science from Mississippi. She was a member of the women's basketball team and a volunteer in campus and community organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Big Brother/Big Sister program and a middle-school mentor. Bolden is pursuing her master's degree in wellness at Mississippi.

Gerard Coles (Springfield College; Sacred Heart University, Southern Connecticut State University or Springfield College)

A dean's list student, Coles graduated in 2000 with a degree in psychology. While at Springfield, he played varsity basketball and interned at the YMCA. Other community activities included Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring, and community clean-up and playground building. He plans to pursue a master's degree in sports management.

Shellyann Hamilton (State University of New York at Buffalo; Central Michigan University)

Hamilton was a member of the track and field team at Buffalo and was the school's first female all-American. She graduated in 2000 with a degree in English upon completion of the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate achievement program. Hamilton interned for Buffalo's marketing director for women's athletics and served as a peer advisor and mentor to other student-athletes. She will pursue her master's degree in sports administration and sports coaching at Central Michigan beginning this fall.