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NCAA GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

Eligibility:		Student athletes in their final year of eligibility at an NCAA member institution who have performed with distinction in the sport(s) for which they have been nominated, and who have a minimum GPA of 3.2.
Duration:		One or two years
Award:		There are a total of 174 awards of $7,500 each to assist with the first year of graduate study. These are diviided equally between men and women scholar athletes, and also equally among fall, winter and spring sports. In addition, each year the NCAA awards two Walter Byers Postgraduate Fellowships of $21,500 per year for two years of support for Grad School.
Holy Cross procedure:		Student athletes must be nominated for this award by the designated member of the Athletic Department, who receives the nomination booklets.
Then what:		There are three separate nomination deadlines per year, corresponding to the the cycles of fall, winter and spring sports. A student athlete may be nominated in more than one sport. Last year’s deadlines were January 17(Fall), March 20(Winter) and May 15th (Spring). Applications are reviewed by regional selection committees and winners are selected by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee.

GENERAL INFORMATION

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program

The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.

The one-time grants of $7,500 each are awarded for fall sports, winter sports and spring sports. Each sports season (fall, winter and spring), there are 29 scholarships available for men and 29 scholarships available for women. The scholarships are one-time, non-renewable grants. Separate nomination forms and information must be submitted for each sport.

Eligibility is restricted to student-athletes at NCAA member institutions who, in their final year of eligibility, have performed with distinction as members of varsity teams in the sport for which they were nominated. Nominees must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.200 (based on a 4.000 scale), be nominated by the faculty athletics representative or designee, and intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a part-time or full-time graduate student.

Selections are made three times each academic year. Nomination booklets are sent to faculty athletics representatives, directors of athletics, senior woman administrators, and conference commissioners. Booklets are mailed fall sports in September, for winter sports in November and for spring sports in February. The nomination form and supporting information must be submitted during the correct seasonal category in relation to that sport. Candidates are screened by seven regional selection committees, and winners are selected by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee. The staff contact is Teresa Smith.

For additional information please visit the NCAA Scholarship Website at http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/prof_development/postgrad_scholarships.html

In addition to the NCAA Graduate Fellowship, the NCAA also has a competition to pick two student athletes (one male, one female) for outstanding academic achievement. For additional information on the Walter Byers Postgraduate Fellowships, please visit: http://www1.ncaa.org/membership/scholarships/byers/index.html

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