Five Awarded NCAA Scholarships

Five Gustavus students were awarded National Collegiate Athletic Association postgraduate scholarships, ranking Gustavus Adolphus College second in the nation for the highest number of these scholarships for Division I, II, and III in the 2004-2005 school year.

The scholarship winners were Rachel Batalden (volleyball), Amanda Parker (gymnastics), Nichole Petersen (track and field), Kristi Schneider (track and field), and Pete Schwingler (tennis).

The scholarships are awarded to student athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. Gustavus’ five scholarship winners set numerous Gustavus athletic records and were catalysts of team improvement. Academically, these students excelled; they graduated with honors in the class of 2005.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) and must have performed with distinction as a member of a varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a graduate student.

The scholarship winners are true representatives of Gustavus’ liberal arts experience and its mission of leadership, service, and lifelong learning. For example, Batalden served as a Peer Assistant and Student Faith Advocate, working for awareness of lifestyle choices as well as exploring student faith. Parker volunteered at St. Peter High School as a tutor for the English as a Second Language program. Petersen worked toward achieving a democratic form of community governance as member of Student Senate, and Schwingler served as an instructor for the Gustavus Tennis Leadership Camp.

These scholarship winners developed themselves as students, athletes, and members of the community and have won the highest number of NCAA postgraduate scholarships in the history of Gustavus. In total, the college has won 15 NCAA scholarships since 1974.