NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program
Spring Men's Honorees
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Former West Texas A&M men's golf standout
Ethan Peterson was awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship by the NCAA. Peterson joins former WT softball standout Tori Bayer as the WT recipients for 2015-16.
The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $7,500 are awarded three times a year corresponding to each sport season (fall, winter and spring). Each sports season there are 29 scholarships available for men and 29 scholarships for women for use in an accredited graduate program.
"I am so proud of Ethan," WT head men's golf coach
Eric Moore said. "He worked hard from the moment I stepped in three years ago both in the classroom and on the golf course and now he is reaping the benefits. I couldn't think of a more deserving student-athlete for this award. It has meant a lot to me being his coach and I know he will be successful in whatever he does and this is a great first step in the process."
Peterson and Bayer are the third and fourth recipients of the prestigious award from the Lone Star Conference during the 2015-16 academic year, joining Angelo State's Katie MacLeay (Volleyball) and David Goggin (Baseball). There were a total of 24 recipients from Division II institutions as he joins Trevor Torgerson of Oral Roberts University as the two men's golf honorees.
He is the fourth WTAMU student-athlete to receive the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2008, joining Bayer, Aaron Mullane (Football, 2013) and 2015 WTAMU Hall of Champions inductee Tyler Cooper (Men's Basketball, 2008).
"I am very grateful to receive the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship," Peterson said. "It was definitely an answer to the prayer and reminded me of one of God's names mentioned in the Old Testament Jehova-Jirah meaning "The God who provides". I want to thank my coach, athletic staff, my business professors and all of WT for the past four years and the opportunities I was given. WT is a great school and I am excited to continue on as a WT graduate student."
Peterson, a native of Clovis, N.M., was named the 2015 Men's Golf National Championship Elite 89 recipient as he had an outstanding career for the Buffs both in the classroom and on the course. He graduated with a 3.93 grade-point average in finance and economics, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA in graduate school at WT. He helped lead the Buffs to the program's first National Championship round appearance in program history in 2015.
In addition, Peterson was a two-time Lone Star Conference Academic Golfer of the Year (2014 and 2016), while earning Cleveland/Srixon Golf Academic All-America honors each of the past two seasons. He also was tabbed CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-America in 2016.
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership are evaluated.
An equitable approach is employed in reviewing an applicant's nomination form to provide all student-athlete nominees an opportunity to receive the postgraduate award, regardless of sport, division, gender or race. In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study.
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship nomination is submitted by the faculty athletics representative (FAR) or by a FAR designee. It is the responsibility of the FAR or FAR designee to ensure all sections of the nomination are submitted to the NCAA national office not later than the corresponding sport season deadlines.
