PHILADELPHIA, PA - Four student-athletes will continue their college educations with the help of postgraduate scholarships awarded by the Atlantic 10 Conference. They are Rhode Island's Melanie Kasparek, Daniel McGrath of La Salle, Dayton's Kelly Pohlman, and Kelly Tessar of Saint Louis.
"Our presidents and directors of athletics have always emphasized the importance of the student in the term student-athlete," says Atlantic 10 commissioner Linda Bruno. "We all strive to make the collegiate experience an important and memorable one and this is another way for us to do that. We congratulate these four student-athletes and wish them and all of our student-athletes success in their future endeavors."
A four-time first-team All-Conference selection in soccer, Kasparek concluded her career by being named the Atlantic 10's Offensive Player of the Year in 2005. The native of Narragansett, RI, graduated as the second all-time leading scorer in URI history with 123 points (50 goals, 23 assists) - two shy of the school record. Her 23 assists are also second all-time. She began her career by being named Rookie of the Year and is one of only three players to earn Rookie and Player of the Year honors during her career.
The two-time A-10 women's soccer Student-Athlete of the Year is a member of the Dean's List and was a four-time Centennial Scholar at Rhode Island. The first-team Academic All-American graduated with a degree in psychology and will continue her education in her undergraduate major.
McGrath is the A-10 record holder in the 10,000-meters, having posted a time of 30:35.82 at the 2005 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championship. The distance runner from Lynbrook, NY, also led the Explorers to a pair of Atlantic 10 cross country titles (2003, 2004) during his career, earning All-Conference laurels in 2004.
The magna cum laude graduate was a member of La Salle's Dean's List all eight semesters of his academic career and was inducted into the Lambda Iota Tau Literature Society last year. He graduated with a degree in English and will continue his education at the University of Notre Dame Law School this fall.
Pohlman is Dayton's record holder in the 20-pound weight (56'9") and hammer (153') throws, as well as being a seven-time A-10 champion. The resident of Versailles, OH, garnered Most Outstanding Field Performer honors at the 2006 A-10 Indoor Championship, where she won gold in the shot put and weight throw. Her 10 top-three A-10 Championship finishes over the last three seasons are more than any other student-athlete who has competed in the throwing events.
Pohlman, a member of the Dean's List every semester at Dayton, was honored four consecutive years by the Psychology National Honors Society. She also garnered Academic All-Conference honors for three seasons. She will pursue a master's in occupational therapy at Ohio State University.
A native of Old Hickory, TN, Tessar earned 73 individual first-place medals during her brilliant four-year swimming career at Saint Louis. In 2002-03, she went undefeated in the 100-yard breaststroke and over her career she broke school records in the 100- and 200-yard backstroke and 200- and 400-yard individual medley. She was also a member of relay teams that established school records in the 200- and 400-yard medley relays and 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays. With Tessar, the Billikens posted unbeaten records in 2003-04 and 2004-05 - the only two undefeated marks in school history.
The occupational science major was a member of the Dean's List every semester and was named to the Alpha Sigma Nu and Pi Theta Epsilon honor societies, serving as treasurer of the latter. She also earned a spot on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and will remain at Saint Louis to pursue a master's in her undergraduate major.
The Atlantic 10's faculty athletics representatives annually honor four student-athletes who excel in academics, athletics and involvement in extra-curricular activities. The recipients are required to use the scholarship toward postgraduate education expenses.
6/8/06