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Teams Individuals
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POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS “To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.000 (on a 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 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. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.” - NCAA website. The NCAA awards 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. Since 1982, when gymnasts first started being awarded scholarships, there have been 65 recipients. That represents an average of 2.87 recipients over a 23 year span (1982-2004). The most scholarships awarded in a year was 1998 and just recently duplicated in 2003 with six. Overall, the University of Alabama has far and away the most recipients with eleven followed by Oregon State University with five. (updated 9/30/04) Post Graduate Scholarship Recipients
NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarships by Sport The table below compares the average number of participants per sport by the average number of scholarship recipients. It is sorted by scholarships per participants. (updated 9/30/04)
WOMAN OF THE YEAR "The NCAA Woman of the Year Award honors senior student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. The overall winner is selected from ten finalists. The ten finalists are selected from winners from each state and the District of Columbia." - NCAA webiste. The Woman of the Year Award recipient truly personifies the mission statement of most colleges and universities. Gymnasts can be proudest of this award given the long odds they have to overcome in terms of numbers of eligible gymnasts as compared to most other sports (view table). And, while most other athletes can represent multiple sports (cross-country/indoor/outdoor track, or basketball/softball, or field hockey/lacrosse), gymnasts typically only participate in gymnastics. Furthermore, take into consideration that of the 51 states, 14 of them do not have any gymnastics teams and 15 of them only have one program. Since its inception in 1991, gymnasts have won 35 state titles including 8 Top-10 Finalists. The University of Alabama has the most representatives at 7, followed by Boise State University with 4. (updated 11/13/03) NCAA Woman of the Year Winners
Top-10 Finalists are in BOLD note: starting in 2002-2003, the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville will have their inaugural season and the University of Vermont cut their program at the end of 2002.
- 2004 Stephanie Kite, University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Academic achievement: 4.0 GPA. Major: Marketing. Expected graduation August 2004. University of Alabama Top Six Senior Student-Athlete 2004; NCAA Postgraduate scholarship 2004; Delta Sigma Pi 2004; Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society 2003; Gamma Beta Sigma Honor Society 2003; Dow Chemical Undergraduate Award for Outstanding Junior in Marketing 2003; Verizon Academic all-American At-Large 2002-2003; Scholastic all-American 2000-2003; Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies 2001; Economics Freshman Achievement Award 2001; Academic all-Southeastern Conference (SEC) 2002-2003; Academic all-SEC 2001-02. - 2003 Kristin B. Sterner (finalist), University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa.
Academic achievement: 3.937 GPA. Major: Biology. Expected graduation December 2003. Scholastic all-American, 2000-03. Received University of Alabama Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year, 2002-03; and Southeastern Conference (SEC) Boyd McWhorter Scholar Athlete of the Year Scholarship, 2003. Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, and Beta, Beta, Beta Honorary societies. Academic all-SEC, 2001-2003; National Society of Collegiate Scholars, 2000-03. Awarded 2003 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Athletic achievement: NCAA team champion, 2002; conference team champion, 2000 and 2003. Regional champion in the vault, balance beam and all-around competition. An all-American in the floor exercise, uneven parallel bars, balance beam, vault and all-around competition. All-conference on the balance beam, 2000-01. Service and Leadership: Hosted community Halloween party for children, 2000-03. Student-Athlete Advisory Board, 2000-03. Volunteer at Bama Rama gymnastics event entertaining over 500 youth gymnasts. Team captain, 2001-03. Excerpt from Personal Statement: "The combination of opportunities in academics, athletics and community service has advanced me toward reaching my goals of attending medical school, becoming a top physician, and being a leader in the community." Hometown: Ionia, Michigan. Janessa Grieco, University of Michigan Academic achievement: 3.734 GPA. Major: Movement Science/School of Kinesiology. Expected to graduate December 2003. Academic all-Big 10, 2001-03. Michigan Academic Achievement Award, 2000-03. Received Big Ten Medal of Honor and Bob Ufer Senior Award. Athletic achievement: Team conference champions, 2000-03. Third-place finish at NCAA championships, 2001. All-conference selection; 2000-03; all-American, 2000-02. Service and Leadership: Served on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, 2000-03; vice-president 2002-03. Volunteered at the Dance Marathon, 2001-03, and Blood/Boone Marrow Drive, 2002. Participated in K-grams, which is a program for underprivileged kids. Team captain, 2001-03. Community service representative, 2000-03. Hometown: Mahopac, New York. Elizabeth Jillson, Oregon State University Academic achievement: 3.32 GPA. Major: Liberal Studies. Expected to graduate June 2004. Three-time Pacific-10 Conference all-academic team, honorable mention. Athletic achievement: First-team all-American on uneven parallel bars, 2002. Pac-10 champion on uneven parallel bars with perfect 10, 2003; and all-conference member, 2002-03. Team placed 10th at the NCAA Championship and second in the conference in 2000. U.S. Bank Woman of Distinction for December 2001. Service and Leadership: Served on Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, 1999-03; chair for Student-Athlete Welfare. Member of Read with the Beavers, 2001-02, and outreach volunteer for a youth group, 2003. Team captain, 2001, 2002. Hometown: Herald, California. - 2002 Andree' Pickens, University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Academic achievement: 3.272 GPA. Major: biology. Expected graduation May 2003. Finalist for an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Academic all-Southeastern Conference (SEC), 2000-02. Received National Alumni Association Outstanding Senior Award (campus award), 2002, and was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Sigma Pi national honor societies. Awarded Black Scholar Award recognition, 2000-02. Athletics excellence: Honda-Broderick Award for Gymnastics recipient, 2002. NCAA champion for balance beam, 1999, and uneven bars, 2002. Three-time conference gymnast of the year. Won conference all-around championship, 2002, and individual conference titles on the vault, bars and balance beam, becoming the first SEC gymnast in league history to earn four individual conference titles in the same year. Four-time regional gymnast of the year. University's most valuable gymnast, 1999-02. Service and leadership: Selected as the female recipient of 2002 SEC Community Service Award, given to a conference student-athlete who demonstrates the most outstanding and meritorious community service achievements during the collegiate career. President of the university's student-athlete advisory board. Team captain, 2001-02. Earned the Sington Soaring Spirit trophy as the best amateur athlete in Alabama, 2001. Appointed to the President's University Standing Committee of Academics and Athletics. Hometown: Houston. Devin McCalla, George Washington University (District of Columbia) Academic achievement: 3.13 GPA. Major: communications. Graduated May 2002. Atlantic 10 Academic all-conference, 2000, 2002. Athletics excellence: First-team all-conference, 1999-02. Highest team finish: conference champion, 1999-02. Service and leadership: Member of the campus student-athlete advisory council and peer athlete leader. Participated in an adopt-a-family project. Team captain, 2001-02. Shannon Bowles (finalist), University of Utah
Academic achievements: 3.83 GPA. Major: psychology and exercise and sports science. Graduated cum laude May 2002. NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, 2002. Verizon/CoSIDA academic all-American, 2002. Mountain West female scholar-athlete of the year, 2002. NCAA Top VIII award nominee, 2002. Named the James "Bud" Jack Scholar-Athlete winner for the graduating female athlete with the highest cumulative GPA, 2002. Received Dahl award to honor the gymnast who most distinguishes herself academically and athletically, 1998, 2002. National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches scholastic all-American, 1998-02. Dean's list and athletics director's honor roll, 1998-02. Athletics excellence: Led Utah to the NCAA championships in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002. North Central Region gymnast of the year, 2002. First-team all-American in floor exercise, 2002; all-around, 1998, 2002; balance beam, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002; and uneven bars, 1998. At NCAA regionals: floor exercise champion, 2001; balance beam champion, 1999; and second on balance beam, 2002. Midwest region all-around runner-up, 1998. Led team to regional title, 1998, 2001, 2002. Service and leadership: Volunteered at a rape recovery center and as a motivational speaker at a local elementary school. Visited with the elderly and helped at a mother-daughter luncheon for the National Adoption Exchange. Coached at youth gymnastics summer camps, 1998, 2001. Excerpt from personal statement: The discipline necessary to balance academics, collegiate athletics, leadership and community service is also the stabilizing force that makes it happen. Each of these areas is equally important and rewarding in the overall collegiate adventure. Hometown: Lee, New Hampshire. - 2001 Annie Marie Kaus, Boise State University (Idaho) Academic achievement: 3.750 GPA. Major: criminal justice. Expected graduation May 2002. Criminal Justice Administration Academic Honoree Scholarship Award, 2000-01. FBI scholarship award, 2001. NCAA academic all-American team and Big West Conference academic all-American team, 1998-01. Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominee, 2000. Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Society, 2000-01. Criminal Justice Association, 1999-01. Athletics excellence: First-team all-conference, 2000. Conference championship team, 1999-00. Service and leadership: President of student-athlete advisory committee and the intercollegiate athletics advisory committee. Attended NCAA Leadership Foundation Conference, 1999. Boys' and Girls' Club Instructor, working with special-needs and high-risk children. Instructor for numerous preschool and kindergarten field trips to the university's gymnasium. Organized National Student-Athlete Day at the university and the Bronco Gymnastics Children's Invitational. Hometown: Lafayette, Colorado. - 2000 Lexa Evans, University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Academic achievement: 3.63 GPA. Major: Journalism. Graduated cum laude, May 2000. Scholastic all American, 1998 2000. Paul W. Bryant Scholar Athlete, 2000. Mortar Board National College Honor Society, 1998 2000. University of Alabama XXXI Women's Honorary, 1998 2000. Omicron Delta Kappa, 1998 2000. Blue Key Honor Fraternity, 1997 2000. Golden Key National Honor Society, 1998 2000. Gamma Beta Phi Honor Fraternity, 1997 2000. Athletics excellence: All American in floor exercise, 1999. Varsity letter, 1997 2000. Team finished fifth in NCAA championship in 2000, third in 1999, second in 1998, ninth in 1997. As a senior, started nine times on the uneven bars, with seven routines scoring 9.700 or better. Earned a season and career high of 9.850 on the uneven bars in 2000. In floor exercise, her season best was 9.950 in 2000, with seven routines scoring 9.800 or better. Service and leadership: Rise Center volunteer. Made presentations at local elementary schools about benefits of drug free lifestyle. Volunteered at Toys for Tots and Project Angel Tree, which assists children whose parents are incarcerated and cannot spend the holidays with them. Student Alumni Association, 1997 1999. Society for News Design, 1998 to present. Hometown: Gilford, New Hampshire. Leisha Jenkins, University of Alaska - Anchorage Academic achievement: 3.32 GPA. Major: English. Graduated May 2000. Five time academic all American. Athletics excellence: First team all American, 2000. Varsity letter in gymnastics, 1997 2000. Team captain, 1998 2000. Service and leadership: Youth group leader. Team study table leader. Special Olympics auction volunteer. Member of Christian Home Group Fellowship. Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama. Denise Jones, University of Utah Academic achievement: 3.745 GPA. Major: Psychology. Graduated, May 2000. NACGC scholastic all American, 1997 2000. Athletics excellence: Three time all America first team, 2000. Second team all American, 1999 and 2000. All American second, fourth and sixth place, 2000. Varsity letter holder, 1997 2000. Team captain, 2000. Team finished second at NCAA championship, 2000. Service and leadership: Supervised child behavior therapy. Volunteered at party for homeless children. Read to children. Speaker for the Stay in School campaign. Served as gymnastics coach. Hometown: Carmichael, California - 1999 Lisa D. Smith, Seattle Pacific University (Washington) - 1998 Merritt Leigh Booth (finalist), University
of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Johnna Evans, Boise State University (Idaho) Amy McClosky, Louisiana State
University Deanne Droegemueller, Oregon State
University - 1997 Meredith P. Willard (finalist),
University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Elena Tkacheva, University of Alaska
- Anchorage Shelly L. Bartlett (finalist), University of Nebraska,
Lincoln Virginia Bolenbaugh (finalist), Seattle Pacific
University (Washington) Kristin Ann Quackenbush, West Virginia
University The Today's Top VIII Awards provide the Association with the opportunity to honor eight outstanding senior student-athletes of the preceding calendar year. Theresa Kulikowski - University of Utah Andree` Pickens - University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Meredith Willard - University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa Prior to 1995, the NCAA only recognized the Top VI John Roethlisberger - University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Melissa Marlow - University of Utah Joy Selig - Oregon State University Patrick W. Kirksey - University of
Nebraska - Lincoln Thomas K. Schlesinger - University of Nebraska - Lincoln Jon L. Louis - Stanford University |
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