Anne Golden Bersagel of Wake Forest University and Bryan Christopher Norrington of Colorado College have been named the 2006 recipients of the NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarships.

The NCAA Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship Committee made the selections at its April 23-24 meeting in Boston. Members reviewed materials from six finalists — three men and three women.

Bersagel, a four-year cross country and track and field student-athlete, and Norrington, a three-year track and field student-athlete, each will receive a $21,500 award from the Association.

The Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship program, established in 1988, recognizes the contributions of the former longtime executive director of the Association 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 promise to be future leaders in their chosen fields.

Award winners are chosen for their outstanding academic achievement as well as their potential for success in postgraduate study in their planned careers. They must have a 3.500 grade-point average (4.000 scale) and must show evidence of superior character and leadership and demonstrate that athletics participation has been a positive influence on their personal and intellectual development, among other qualifications.

Bersagel

A three-time all-American in cross country and a repeat Academic All-America honoree, Wake Forest’s Bersagel twice was recognized as the school’s scholar-athlete of the year. The five-time track and field all-American and 2008 Olympic hopeful in the 10,000 meters is a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the outdoor event and was the 2005 league champion in the indoor 5,000 meters.

Bersagel earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics. She has completed internships with the U.S. State Department at the embassy in Oslo, Norway, and with the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C. She also served as an U.S. representative to the NATO Youth Summit on Anti-Terrorism in Belgium and the Danish Atlantic Youth Seminar in Denmark last year. She states as her long-term goal to one day become the United States Secretary of State

At Wake Forest, Bersagel was an elected member of the Honor and Ethics Council, a panel responsible for hearing cases of alleged honor-code violations and determining sanctions, when appropriate. She volunteered as a care provider for infants of migrant farm laborers through Head Start in Colorado and served as a reading tutor at elementary and middle schools. Bersagel also was vice president of Wake Forest’s Amnesty International chapter.

She plans to pursue a master of public policy degree with a concentration in foreign affairs.

Norrington

Study abroad in Costa Rica, Japan, the Czech Republic, Senegal and Canada has fueled Norrington’s plans to pursue a career in development, public health, human rights and public affairs. His ultimate goal is to establish a nongovernment organization that will provide nutrition, health, educational and developmental support to rural communities in need.

The international political economy major with minors in Asian studies, Black studies and Central American culture and society captained the track and field team in 2004 and established the school record in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles.

In addition to serving as a member of Colorado College’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, he was a student intern and minority recruitment and minority organizations representative with the school’s office of admissions. He also was a member of the Minority Recruitment Task Force and participated with the student ambassador program. Norrington also was co-president of the Black Student Union and has been involved as a mentor and co-leader in a mentoring program at a middle school.

A member of Mortar Board National Honor Society and the Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society for social science, Norrington appeared in multiple theatre and dance productions.

He plans to pursue a dual master’s degree in public affairs and urban and regional planning with a certificate in health and health policy.