Corrin Nicole Drakulich, a track and field student-athlete at the University of Georgia, and Joaquin Fernando Zalacain, a tennis student-athlete at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, have been named as recipients of the 2004 NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship.

Drakulich and Zalacain, who each will receive a $21,500 award from the Association, were selected from a pool of six finalists, three men and three women.

Established in 1988, the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship program recognizes the contributions of former NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers and encourages academic excellence in student-athletes. A Byers scholar is recognized as an individual who has combined the best elements of mind and body to achieve national distinction for his or her achievements, and who promises to be a future leader in his or her chosen field.

Student-athletes are chosen in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and potential for success in postgraduate study in his or her planned career.

Award recipients must have a 3.500 grade-point average (4.000 scale), show evidence of superior character and leadership and demonstrate that participation in athletics has been a positive influence on personal and intellectual development, among other qualifications.

Drakulich, a genetics and religion double major, boasts a perfect grade-point average and is the recipient of the University of Georgia Foundation Fellowship Scholarship, the highest academic scholarship awarded to undergraduates at Georgia. Drakulich intends to pursue a law degree with an ultimate goal of building a career in the area of scientific litigation.

Drakulich is the first female pole vaulter recruited to Georgia. She served as captain of the track and field team in 2003 and 2004. She was honored with first-team academic all-America recognition in 2003 and was an academic all-Southeastern Conference selection in 2002 and 2003.

Drakulich, who also competes in the 800 meters, served as an elementary school tutor to first-grade English as a Second Language students. In addition, she has spent time studying abroad and participating in community-service projects in the Yucatan Peninsula, the Turks and Caicos Islands, England, Hungary, Poland, Italy and Costa Rica.

She also is a recipient of the 2003 Peach of an Athlete Role Model award presented by the Boy Scouts of America for leadership, service and academics.

Zalacain, who is completing a bachelor of science degree in general sciences with a minor in biology at Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, plans to pursue a career as a medical doctor. In reaching that goal, the dean's list honoree has participated in research in myocardial failure at Boston University and in cardiovascular physiology at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.

As a member of the tennis team, Zalacain rapidly moved up to the No. 2 slot after initially being positioned at No. 5. The 2001 rookie of the year for Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, he served as sub-captain from 2001 to 2003. He also spent time working as a tennis instructor.

In 2002-03, Zalacain worked as a chemistry tutor and an assistant to a professor as part of the Howard Hughes Program and is the recipient of the 2003 FASEB/MARK Summer Internship Travel Award and the 2003 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship at Boston U.

Zalacain also has spent time volunteering at the University of Puerto Rico Hospital and at La Esperanza, a school for disabled children.