The NCAA has awarded postgraduate scholarships of $5,000 each to 58 student-athletes (29 men and 29 women) at member institutions competing in fall sports. Student-athletes from football, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, men's water polo, women's volleyball and field hockey were eligible for the fall awards.

The NCAA annually awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have excelled academically and athletically, and who are in their last year of intercollegiate athletics competition.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.000 (4.000 scale) or its equivalent and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time graduate student.

In addition, the student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics.

Following is a complete list of the 2000-01 NCAA postgraduate scholarship winners for the fall, with school, sport, major and notable accomplishments.

Division I women

Amy Dawn Agulay, field hockey, University of New Hampshire -- Exercise science major; holds single-season school record for minutes played; recipient of the Joyce V. Hiller Scholarship for Most Outstanding Field Hockey Player; first-team all-America East selection (1998-00); America East Rookie of the Year in 1997; National Field Hockey Coaches Association first-team regional all-American; three-time NFHCA academic all-American; will pursue a master's degree in kinesiology.

Kacy Nikole Beitel, soccer, University of Michigan -- Industrial and operations engineering major; Michigan's all-time leader in goals and points; voted team's most valuable player; two-time all-Big Ten first-team selection; 1997 and 1999 Big Ten Conference Champion; Big Ten assists leader for 2000; academic all-Big Ten honors from 1998-00; 2000 Verizon Region II Academic All-American; draft pick for the Washington Freedom; will pursue a master's degree in business administration.

Amy Marie Beykirch, cross country, North Carolina State University -- Biological sciences major; three-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference and four-time all-Southeast Region performer; 1997 ACC Freshman of the Year; helped team win three conference championships and three Southeast Region championships; recipient of the ACC Scholar-Athlete award (1997-00); will attend medical school.

Kathleen Marie Celio, soccer, Santa Clara University -- Finance and English major; voted team's most improved player in 1998; Santa Clara/Nike Classic all-tournament player; two-time West Coast Conference all-academic team selection; all-WCC second team; all-West Region academic honors (1997-99); National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas first-team academic all-American; will study law.

Sunny Deshea Gilbert, cross country, University of Missouri, Columbia -- Biochemistry major; seven-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll selection; named to academic all-Big 12 first team (1997-00); Big 12 distance medley relay champion; two-time USTCA academic all-American; also was a member of Missouri's championship distance medley relay team in indoor track; NCAA all-American in the 800 meters; will study biochemistry in graduate school.

Kara Calean Grgas-Wheeler, cross country, University of Colorado, Boulder -- Psychology major; owns school records for distance medley relay, outdoor 3,000 meters and outdoor 5,000 meters; Colorado Female Athlete of the Year for 1999-00; three-time all-Big 12 first-team choice; two-time Big 12 champion; two-time Mountain Region champion; 2000-01 NCAA cross country national champion; Honda Sports Award winner; plans to obtain a master's degree in social work.

Cheryl Lynn Loveless, soccer, University of Portland -- Chemistry/theology major; Portland Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 1999-00; two-time West Coast Conference all-academic selection; first-team all-conference honors in 1996; named to National Soccer Coaches Association of America West Region second team; 2000 NCAA College Cup all-tournament player; participated in the NSCAA Senior All-Star Classic; will pursue a master's degree in chemistry.

Carla J. Muntz, volleyball, University of Dayton -- Premedicine major; holds school records for career assists and single-season assists; voted team's most valuable player in 1998; Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year in 1998; named to conference volleyball all-academic team three years in a row; American Volleyball Coaches Association all-District I selection; AVCA all-Northeast Region honors; Verizon Academic All-American; will attend medical school.

Christina Jean Nichols, cross country, North Carolina State University -- Mechanical engineering major; helped team win two Atlantic Coast Conference championships; 1999 individual conference champion; three-time all-conference honors; member of NCAA Southeast Region championship team (1996 and 2000); three-time all Southeast Region honors; two-time all-American; will study aerospace engineering.

Angela Oxley, volleyball, University of Nebraska, Lincoln -- Exercise science major; two-time recipient of Nebraska's Student-Athlete Academic Award; Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 1997; four-time all-Big 12 academic selection; four-time recipient of the American Volleyball Coaches Association Molten Academic Award; helped team win national championship in 2000; will pursue a dual degree in sports administration and business administration.

Michelle Scott, field hockey, Stanford University -- Human biology major; Stanford Athletic Department Honor and Scholar-Athlete (1997-00); voted team's most inspirational and most valuable player; first-team all-Northern Pacific Field Hockey Conference selection; conference tournament MVP in 2000; member of the West Region all-American team for 2000; three-time National Field Hockey Coaches Association academic all-American; plans to attend medical school.

Courtney Anne Sommer, field hockey, Duke University -- Biological anthropology/anatomy major; ranks third on all-time Duke list for career assists; first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference honors (1998-00); two-time ACC all-tournament team selection; all-South Region honors from 1998-00; second-team all-American in 1999 and 2000; National Field Hockey Coaches Association academic all-American; will study medicine.

Division I men

Michael Bucy, soccer, University of North Carolina -- Economics major; founded a dance marathon to benefit the school's children's hospital; won Jim Tatum Award, given to the outstanding North Carolina student-athlete; started the Student-Athlete Leadership Council; collected 74 points in his career, starting 71 of 79 games in his career; plans to pursue a master's degree in theology.

Kimball Christianson, football, University of Utah -- German major; selected academic all-conference all four years; 2000 second-team Academic All-American; winner of the 2000 Woody Hayes Award; all-conference honorable mention in 2000; 2001 Mountain West Conference Citizenship Award recipient; worked as a full-time volunteer with Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India; mentors newly arrived refugees from Nigeria, Togo, Somalia, Bosnia and Sudan; will attend medical school at Utah this fall.

Joe Hall, cross country, University of Wyoming -- Architectural engineering major; all-Western Athletic Conference selection in 1998 and all-Mountain West Conference selection for indoor track and cross country in 2000; active in the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society; school's scholar-athlete award recipient (1997-00); academic all-conference honoree; Wyoming Engineering Society's Outstanding Engineering Student of the Year for 2001; plans to pursue a graduate degree in structural engineering.

Nicholas Kempenich, football, University of Oklahoma -- Social studies major; named a Sooner Scholar in each of his semesters at the school; named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll each semester; helped the Sooners to the 2000 national championship; started every game in his career; plans to pursue graduate studies in education administration.

Andrew Sause, water polo, U.S. Naval Academy -- Ocean engineering major; won the Carl Vinson Leadership Award twice for highest military ranking in his class; three-time U.S. Water Polo Coaches Association all-Academic Team member; scored 38 goals his senior season, helping the Midshipmen to a fourth-place NCAA finish; plans to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Matthew Thuesen, football, University of Montana -- Political science major; winner of the 2000 Robert O. Lindsay Scholar-Athlete President's Award; three-time Big Sky Conference all-academic team member; 2000 first-team Verizon Academic All-American; offensive lineman who started four years and led his team to a runner-up finish in the 2000 Division I-AA Football Championship.

Charles Toth, water polo, U.S. Air Force Academy -- Environmental engineering major; named Verizon Academic All-American in each of his four seasons; also competed on the Air Force swimming team; set an Air Force record with 257 steals in his career; led Air Force to a 50-20 record in the Western Water Polo Association during his four seasons; plans to pursue a degree in bioenvironmental engineering.

Marques Tuiasosopo, football, University of Washington -- Business administration major; passed for a school-record 6,875 yards; holds 11 Washington records and one NCAA record; named most valuable player in 2001 Rose Bowl; member of Pacific-10 Conference all-academic team.

Divisions II and III women

Nicole A. Bayman, soccer, University of Scranton -- Marketing, business leadership program major; eighth all-time leading scorer in Scranton history (74 total points); voted team's most valuable player; two-time Freedom Conference first-team selection; 2000 Freedom Conference Player of the Year; led team to a berth in the NCAA tournament; National Soccer Coaches Association of America all-region honors in 1999 and 2000; NSCAA scholar-athlete; NSCAA second-team all-American; will study law at Villanova.

Rose Marie Ebnet, volleyball, South Dakota State University -- Health promotion/pre-chiropractic major; South Dakota State gold medal recipient in 1999 and 2000; North Central Conference MVP; all-conference academic selection; three-time all-conference choice; Verizon Academic All-District second-team selection; American Volleyball Coaches Association first-team all-American; will attend Northwestern Chiropractic College.

Adrienne Klorese Gough, cross country, DePauw University -- Computer science major; DePauw Most Valuable Runner (1997-00); holds school record for 5,000 meters; two-time academic all-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference selection; 1997 conference individual champion and MVP; three-time NCAA Division III national qualifier; NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association all-academic selection (1997-00); will pursue a master's degree in business administration.

Caroline Hoit, soccer, Emory University -- International studies major; holds school career record for game-winning goals; recipient of the Russell and Ralph Bridges Award (awarded to an outstanding all-around athlete at Emory); three-time University Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete; all-conference first-team selection in 1999 and 2000; National Soccer Coaches Association of America academic all-American; NCAA Division III third-team all-American; will study law or international affairs.

Marie A. Muhvic, soccer, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point -- Physical education major; two-time recipient of the Wisconsin-Stevens Point Scholar-Athlete Award; school's all-time leading scorer in 2000; three-time Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete; holds conference records for career goals and points; WIAC Player of the Year for 2000; NSCAA second-team all-American in 2000; will pursue a master's degree in sport administration/management.

Kathleen Susanne Neff, soccer, Stonehill College -- Biology major; holds school records for career wins, goals-against average and shutouts; Northeast-10 Conference Goalie of the Year for 1999; three-time conference all-star; National Soccer Coaches Association of America all-Region honors (1998-00); NSCAA second-team all-American; plans to obtain a Ph.D. in marine sciences.

Bonnie Bleu O'Shields, volleyball, College of Notre Dame (Maryland) -- Business/finance major; holds school records for most career kills, most kills in a season, most career digs and most digs in a season; three-time team most valuable player; recipient of the Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference Most Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award; AWCC Most Outstanding Volleyball Player for 2000; four-time all-conference selection; plans to obtain a master's in business administration.

Abigail S. Perham, field hockey, Springfield College -- Rehabilitation and disabilities major; three-time New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference all-academic choice; 2000 NEWMAC Player of the Year; two-time NEWMAC all-conference team; Astro Turf/NFHCA Division III first-team all-American in 2000; member of the NCAA Division III championship all-tournament team; plans to obtain a master's degree in psychiatric counseling.

Jill Quast, volleyball, Northwest Missouri State University -- Accounting major; school's career leader in digs; three-time all-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association first-team selection; MIAA most valuable player in 2000; two-time MIAA Presidential Scholar; academic all-conference honors (1998-00); Verizon Academic All-American; plans to study business administration or law.

Malissa K. Stevenson, soccer, Northern Kentucky University -- Biology major; Northern Kentucky University Co-Defensive Player of the Year for 1999; named to Great Lakes Valley Conference all-academic team in 1999 and 2000; GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for women's soccer (2001); team was runner-up in 2000 NCAA tournament; NSCAA academic all-American; will study physical therapy.

Barbara J. Swallow, cross country, Springfield College -- Sports biology major; Springfield College Female Individual Sport Athlete of the Year (1998-00); named to NEWMAC all-academic team in 2001; four-time conference individual champion; four-time conference runner of the year; ECAC Division III individual champion (1998-00); three-time NCAA all-American; first-team Verizon Academic All-American; plans to study medical sciences.

Megan Williams, volleyball, Emory University -- Marketing and communications major; recipient of the Jeff McCord Award for Outstanding Individual Performance; voted team's most valuable player in 2000; three-time University Athletic Association first-team selection; named to UAA all-academic team (1998-00); Verizon Academic All-District (2000); second-team all-American in 1999; first-team all-American in 2000; will pursue a master's in business administration.

Toby Wilmet, field hockey, Washington College (Maryland) -- Art/humanities major; holds school records for most wins for a goalie, career shutouts and career saves; recipient of the Bo Blanchard Sportsmanship Award; two-time all-Centennial Conference first-team; National Field Hockey Coaches Association regional academic all-American in 1999 and 2000; first-team all-American; two-time NFHCA national academic all-American; will pursue a master's degree in anthropology.

Divisions II and III men

Adam Carlson, cross country, Emory University -- Chemistry major who earned Phi Beta Kappa honors; all-academic selection for the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons in cross country; recipient of the Emory White Scholarship; holds school record in the 8,000-meter run; four-time all-conference and all-region selection; 1999 NCAA Southeast Regional individual champion; 2000 conference individual champion; plans to attend medical school.

Aaron Cuny, cross country, University of North Florida -- Dual major in economics and English; Verizon Academic All-America third-team selection; Male Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2000; four-time all-Peachbelt Conference selection; active in community service, including two mission trips to Minsk, Belarus, to work with Habitat for Humanity and mentoring as part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program; plans to pursue a graduate degree in educational leadership.

Matthew DeJong, soccer, University of California, Davis -- Civil engineering major; volunteered in the Ivory Coast helping with the construction of a church; served as mentor to several high-school students at a local church; started all 80 games in his career, setting the UC Davis career points mark with 82; hopes to eventually pursue master's and doctoral degrees and become a professor.

Thor-Aage Esbensen, cross country, Nebraska Wesleyan University -- Mathematics major with a concentration in secondary education; three-time all-American; four-time team MVP and all-conference honoree; vice-president of Kappa Mu Epsilon math honorary; awarded school's trustee scholarship all four years; provided residence life peer assistance in a resident hall; wants to teach math in secondary school.

Joseph Fent, cross country, University of Scranton -- Biology major; 1999-00 third-team Academic All-American; coaches association all-America all four years; named the Outstanding Male Senior Student-Athlete in 2001; voted team's most valuable runner all four years; New York Collegiate Athletic Conference champion and all-region (1997-00); active in Habitat for Humanity; plans to enter veterinary school in August 2001.

Michael Green, cross country, Troy State University -- Sport and fitness management major; school's first cross country athlete to qualify for NCAA Division I championships; Trans America Athletic Conference runner of the year in 1998-00; TAAC track and field men's athlete of the year (1998-00); 1999 TAAC men's student-athlete of the year; vice-president of campus SAAC; president of Phi Epsilon Kappa professional fraternity; began pursuit of a graduate degree in sport and fitness management at Troy State in spring 2001.

Mackenzie Hay, football, Augustana College (Illinois) -- Biology major; earned 11 all-America honors from several football associations and publications; Verizon Academic All-American for 2000; National Football Foundation scholar-athlete; Presidential Scholarship recipient all four years; member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honorary; mentored underprivileged youth; plans to attend medical school in the fall.

Joe Jones, football, Southeastern Oklahoma State University -- Health and physical education major; member of the athletic director's honor roll all four years; Verizon Academic All-American in 2000; Lone Star Conference academic all-conference 1999-00; school's first four-time, first-team all-conference selection; 1999 and 2000 North Division Offensive Lineman of the Year for his conference; volunteered with the Special Olympics; working toward finishing his master's in education at Southeastern Oklahoma State.

Tamas Katona, water polo, St. Francis College (New York) -- Mathematics major; inducted into the Duns Scotus Honor Society, a prestigious group at St. Francis; participated in an environmental clean-up project; four-year starter as a goaltender; blocked a school-record six four-meter shots in the 2000 season; plans to pursue a degree in international economics and finance.

Matthew LaVerde, football, Mount Union College -- Mathematics major; honored with the Joseph Montgomery Leadership Award at Mount Union; all-Ohio Athletic Conference academic choice; Mount Union was 26-1 in his two seasons and won the Division III Football Championship in 2000; plans to teach and coach before pursuing a master's degree in business administration.

Victor Longo, cross country, Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales -- Four-time team MVP (1997-00) who will graduate in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in medical studies; member of several conference and national cross country all-academic teams; first-team all-conference selection in 1999; second-team all-conference selection in 2000; all mid-east region selection in 1997; plans to earn a graduate degree in Allentown's master's program for physician assistants.

Timothy McCoskey, cross country, North Central College -- History major; three-time national champion in Division III cross country and indoor and outdoor track in the 1500-meter run; also a repeat all-American in the 800-meter event; the 2000 United States Track Coaches Association national athlete of the year for Division III indoor track and outdoor track; a volunteer tutor to inner-city youth; wants to teach and coach, and will pursue a master's degree in education.

Jeffrey Olenick, cross country, Goucher College -- History major; three-time Continental Athletic Conference champion; earned a ninth-place finish at the Division III national championships in 2000; was the first cross country all-American at Goucher; CAC runner of the year 1997, 1999 and 2000; coaches association academic all-American; plans to pursue his graduate degree in liberal and professional studies in fall 2001.

Paul Peletz, football, Arkansas Tech University -- Business administration major; member of the American Football Coaches Association's Good Works Team, which recognizes those involved in community service; two-time Verizon Academic All-American; scored 239 points in his career as a kicker, good for third in Arkansas Tech history; plans to pursue a master's degree in business administration.

Brian Sell, cross country, Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania) -- biology major; holds school records in the 3,000-, 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs; all-conference selection (1998-00); indoor track conference champion in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter events; two-time student-athlete of the year; member of the all-region team (1999 and 2000); earned all-American status after his performance at the 2000 NCAA championships; plans to enter chiropractic school in the fall.

Carl Tape, soccer, Carleton College -- A double major (physics and geology), Tape was named a Rhodes Scholar in 2001; won the Noyes Prize for academic scholarship in 2000; was named first-team all-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 1999 and 2000; plans to study seismology.

Charlie Walker Jr., football, Carson-Newman College -- Biology major; named Student Leader of the Year at Carson-Newman in 2000; recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award; returned two of his six interceptions for touchdowns and had 13 pass break-ups in his senior season; Carson-Newman was 44-6 during his tenure; plans to attend medical school and specialize in orthopedic surgery.

David Wonderlick, football, Susquehanna University -- Public relations major; maintained a perfect grade-point average; received the Fredrickson Foundation Scholarship and the Gene Urey Memorial Scholarship; two-time Verizon first-team Academic All-American; allowed only one sack in 358 pass plays his senior season as a center on the offensive line.

Tom Zirbel, cross country, Wartburg College -- Chemistry major who earned MVP honors for 2000 in cross country; nine-time all-conference honoree in track and field and four-time all-conference selection in cross country; owns the fastest time (24:37) in Iowa Conference history; earned all-region honors all four years; plans to study chemistry in graduate school.