The NCAA announced Sarah Marie Dance and Matthew G. Gunn as recipients of the 2005 NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarships.

Dance, a swimming student-athlete at Truman State University, and Gunn, a cross country and track and field student-athlete at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, were chosen from a pool of six candidates -- three men and three women -- to receive the $21,500 awards. The scholarship is renewable for a second year of postgraduate study providing the recipients remain in good academic standing.

The Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship program was established in 1988 to recognize the contributions of former NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers, and encourages academic excellence in student-athletes. Byers scholars are recognized as individuals who have combined the best elements of mind and body to achieve national distinction for their achievements and who show promise as future leaders in their chosen careers.

Dance, an exercise science major and biology minor, was a member of three national championship teams at Truman. The 21-time all-American was part of national record-setting teams in the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays. She also was a member of school-record teams in those disciplines and the 200-yard freestyle relay.

A two-time first-team Academic all-America and three-time College Swimming Coaches Association of America scholar, Dance plans to become a doctor. She has served as a hospital emergency room volunteer and logged 200 hours of medical field experience by shadowing and assisting physicians in dermatology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, physiatry and administration. Dance, a member of the American Medical Student Association and Alpha Sigma Gamma service sorority, completed numerous independent research projects, including one on nutrition knowledge of male and female collegiate swimmers.

Gunn, a member of three national championship track and field teams at Arkansas, is an international relations major with a double minor in European studies and history. He also was part of an Arkansas cross country squad that placed fifth and third, respectively, in the Division I Men's Cross Country Championships in 2003 and 2004. In addition, Gunn competed on the cross country and track and field teams at Clemson University in 2001-02.

A three-time all-Southeastern Conference selection and a two-time all-South region cross country pick, Gunn has been accepted into Columbia University School of Law's class of 2008.

Gunn has served as undergraduate chair of the International Law Society at Arkansas since 2003 and also has worked as a runner for law firms in Arkansas and Idaho. A member of the national dean's list, Gunn also is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and served as a speaker for the Arkansas Athletic Outreach Champions of Character program.

Last year, 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, were selected as Byers scholars.