2015 A-10 Postgraduate Scholarship Honoree Bios

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade announced Wednesday the record 14 recipients of the annual A-10 Postgraduate Scholarship. This will mark the first time in the 24-year history of the award that each institution has had a graduating student-athlete receive the prestigious award.

The program, which began honoring two student-athletes in 1991, has been so successful and well received by both the recipients and the A-10 member institutions that it has expanded several times. The most recent expansion, which was adopted in January of 2015, now includes one representative from each A-10 school, resulting in the record-breaking 14 honorees.

"We've had the opportunity to grow the postgraduate program a significant amount as part of the A-10's commitment to providing strong academic support for our student-athletes. Granting 14 scholarships for graduate education speaks volumes about the Atlantic 10 membership and its dedication to our student-athletes," said George Washington Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero, who serves as Chair of the A-10 Athletic Directors.

Designed to provide graduating student-athletes the opportunity to continue their college education, the program now awards $70,000 in scholarship funding to former A-10 student-athletes, more than triple what the program previously granted. This year, all 14 honorees will receive $5,000 to contribute towards full-time enrollment in a graduate or professional program.

"These 14 outstanding student-athletes are well-deserving of one of the most prestigious awards in the Atlantic 10. They have been committed to being stellar academically and athletically, and I congratulate each of them and wish them luck as they pursue their advanced degrees," stated McGlade. "I also commend our member institutions for their vision in expanding this worthwhile scholarship fund."

This year's recipients, which are listed below, represent 10 sports, including six team sports and five individual sports. The class is comprised of 11 female student-athletes and three males and the average GPA of the 14 individuals is 3.70. The selection process involved the league's athletic directors, senior woman administrators and faculty athletic representatives.

2015 Postgraduate Scholarship Honorees

- Emily Rademacher, Davidson (Women's Lacrosse)
- Katherine Ollier, Dayton (Cross Country/Track & Field)
- Nicholas DiSomma, Duquesne (Men's Soccer)
- Nicole Arrato, Fordham (Rowing)
- Danielle O'Brien, George Mason (Women's Soccer)
- Victoria Valos, George Washington (Softball)
- Maryam Huseini, La Salle (Women's Soccer)
- Rachel Hilliard, Massachusetts (Cross Country/Track & Field)
- Catherine Steffen, Rhode Island (Volleyball)
- Amber Young, Richmond (Track & Field)
- Aaron Leskow, Saint Joseph's (Cross Country/Track & Field)
- Michael Scolarici, Saint Louis (Cross Country/Track & Field)
- Hannah Robinson, St. Bonaventure (Cross Country)
- Kiara Porter, VCU (Track & Field)

The expansion of the Postgraduate Scholarship Program reflects the broad-based commitment to student-athlete opportunities and academics by the Atlantic 10, which consistently ranks at the top amongst all Division I Conferences in both Graduation Success Rate (GSR) and the Academic Progress Rate (APR) data released by the NCAA.

To be considered for the Postgraduate Scholarship, student-athletes must have performed with distinction both in the classroom and in their respective sports throughout their career, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community. Last year, the Postgraduate program honored 10 individuals from seven institutions. The postgraduate program, which began in 1991 honoring one male and one female student-athlete, first expanded to four recipients in 1997 and then to 10 in 2014.

About the Atlantic 10 Conference The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 and consists of 14 diverse members across eight states and Washington, D.C. The mission of the Atlantic 10 is to provide an enhanced student-athlete experience through 21 nationally competitive championship sports. The basketball-centric conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for its student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The membership consists of Davidson College, the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph's University, Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information, visit www.atlantic10.com.