June 5, 2008
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Rebecca Cunfer of Saint Joseph's, Xavier's Jillian Quayle, and Brad Byars and Elizabeth Fox of Saint Louis will continue their college educations with the help of postgraduate scholarships awarded by the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Byars, who recently was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, was named to the 2008 Men's Swimming & Diving All-Conference first-team after capturing gold in the 100-yard freestyle in a program-record time of 45.27. He is also the Saint Louis record holder in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.44) and a member of four relays that boast the top times in program history. A five-time Commissioner's Honor Roll member and two-time Academic All-Conference selection, the Marion, Ill., native was tabbed the 2008 Atlantic 10 Men's Swimming & Diving Student-Athlete of the Year and earned team MVP honors for the third consecutive season.
Having graduated with a degree in business administration while majoring in human resource management, Byars is a former president of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and served in the university's student government and Student Conduct Board. A seven-time recipient of the Saint Louis University Athlete Academic Excellence Award and named to the university's Dean's List seven times, Byars will continue his education at Saint Louis University where he will pursue a Juris Doctorate and Masters of Health Care Administration.
Twice named to the field hockey all-Conference team at goalkeeper, Cunfer garnered All-Championship team honors after leading Saint Joseph's to the final of the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championship. The all-time leader in wins (41) in Saint Joseph's history, Cunfer ranks second in program annals in shutouts with 17 and fifth in saves with 358. The Manheim, Pa., resident was named the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007, was a four-time member of the National Field Hockey Association's Academic Squad and a three-time (2005-07) Academic All-Conference selection.
An international relations major, Cunfer was named to the Saint Joseph's Dean's List seven times, elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In addition, she served as the university's Pep Band president in 2007-08, volunteered fro Project Appalachia, was a member of the SJU Student Development Committee and studied at the University of Barcelona in the Spring of 2007. Cunfer will enroll at American University in the fall, where she will pursue a Masters of Arts in International Peace & Conflict Resolution.
Fox, a member of the Saint Louis women's soccer team, earned first-team All-Conference honors in 2007 after anchoring a Billikens defense that ranked fourth in the A-10 in both shutouts (seven) and goals allowed (1.11 pg.). The St. Louis, Mo., native was part of two (2005-06) A-10 Championship squads while appearing in 80 matches during her standout career, including 46 starts. Named the university's 2007 Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Fox helped SLU advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2006. The Bills compiled an overall record of 56-21-5 during her four years.
A nutrition and dietetics major, Fox was named to the Saint Louis University Dean's List five times, was a member of the Sports, Cardiovascular & Wellness Nutritionists (SCWN) Dietetic Practice Group, the Special Needs Soccer Association (SPENSA), the Big Sister Program on campus and the Missouri and American Dietetics Association. She will pursue her masters in nutrition & physical performance at Saint Louis University.
A three-time all-Conference selection and the 2007 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, Quayle garnered honorable mention All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) after leading Xavier to the finals of the 2007 A-10 Championship and the program's first-ever at-large berth in the NCAA Championship. The North Royalton, Ohio, resident led the league in hitting percentage (.386) and blocks (1.28 bpg.) this season and ended her career with 1,381 kills. A member of the 2007 Academic All-Conference team, she ranks first in program history in career block assists (442) second in career hitting percentage (.330).
Named to the Xavier University Dean's List four times, Quayle earned a degree in middle childhood education with concentrations in language arts and social studies. A member of the Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and active in various campus activities including Relay For Life, Adopt-A-Family and Fill-A-Truck, Quayle earned the Rev. Paul L. O'Connor Award in 2008 for female excellence in academics and athletics at Xavier. She will continue her education at Baldwin-Wallace College where she will pursue a masters in educational technology.
The Atlantic 10 Conference annually honors four student-athletes who excel in academics and athletics and are involved in extra-curricular activities. The recipients are required to use the scholarship toward postgraduate education expenses.