ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Big Ten Conference office announced its annual postgraduate scholarship recipients on Thursday. Two students competing in intercollegiate athletics from each of the 14 Big Ten institutions who plan to continue their education at a graduate degree program were each awarded a $7,500 scholarship, based on primarily academic achievements.
This year’s recipients span 14 different sports and will continue their education in a variety of different disciplines, including accounting, advertising and public relations, aerospace engineering, biochemistry, biology, biology-vertebrate physiology, business, environmental sciences, human biology, kinesiology, mechanical engineering, neurobiology, neuroscience, nutrition science, physiology, psychology, recreation and sociology.
Six of the recipients have earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor from their respective schools this spring including Nicole Choquette (Illinois), Kristen Confroy (Maryland), Erin Finn (Michigan), Alexander Leto (Maryland), Patrick Ransford (Michigan) and Michael Rexrode (Rutgers). Three of the recipients have been named Big Ten Sportsmanship honorees in their respective sports during this academic year: Maryland’s Kristen Confroy in women’s basketball, Indiana’s Jack Griffith in men’s soccer and Nebraska’s Chris Weber in football. Matthew McCutcheon of Penn State wrestling was part of a National Championship Team. Nebraska’s Chris Weber was awarded the Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship in February 2018.
Each Big Ten institution developed its own on-campus selection process when awarding the scholarship. Students must have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point-average, demonstrated leadership qualities, served as an excellent role model and intended to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree at a graduate degree program. The scholarship will be used to pay expenses of the student’s postgraduate education to include such related activities as research and teaching, as well as other expenses such as tuition, fees, room and board, required course-related supplies and books. In order to retain the scholarship, the recipient must be accepted into a full-time graduate degree program within three years from the fall semester after selection. The complete list of 2017-18 Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship recipients can be found below.
Illinois
Nicole Choquette, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Tony Zea, Men’s Track & Field
Indiana
Jack Griffith, Men’s Soccer
Sam Lisy, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Iowa
Sarah Kurtz, Softball
Jon Wisnieski, Football
Maryland
Kristen Confroy, Women’s Basketball
Alexander Leto, Men’s Track & Field
Michigan
Erin Finn, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Patrick Ransford, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Michigan State
Michael Dube, Men’s Tennis
Morgan Johnson, Women’s Track & Field
Minnesota
Joel Gagnon, Men’s Gymnastics
Lindsey Smits, Women’s Track & Field
Nebraska
Allison Peterson, Women’s Soccer
Chris Weber, Football
Northwestern
Jason Ipsarides, Wrestling
Lyndsey Lafitte, Women’s Lacrosse
Ohio State
Zhesi Li, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Brayden Seal, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Penn State
McKayla Mawn, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Matthew McCutcheon, Wrestling
Purdue
Chris Bals, Men’s Swimming & Diving
Hanna House, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Rutgers
Michael Rexrode, Men’s Lacrosse
Addison Walkowiak, Women’s Swimming & Diving
Wisconsin
Tim Guthrie, Men’s Track & Field
Lianna Mack, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
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