Nov. 2, 2009

Nov. 2, 2009

CLEVELAND - The six winners for the tenth annual John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Awards were announced today by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

 

The winners are:

 

The winners will each receive a $10,000 grant to be used towards postgraduate studies in athletics administration. Funding for the scholarship program has been provided in part by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); the Cleveland Cavaliers; Major League Baseball (MLB); the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC); the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA); the National Basketball Association (NBA); the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA); and Sears, Roebuck and Co.

 

Minorities (as defined by federal guidelines) who intend to pursue a postgraduate degree in athletics administration are eligible for these scholarships. Students were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and have demonstrated leadership qualities on an institutional or community level.

 

Biographies on each of the winners and more information about the McLendon Award can be found below:

 

Adrian Dowell attended Roanoke College where he earned an undergraduate degree in health & human performance - sport management. While at Roanoke, Dowell was a four-year captain of the men’s basketball team and was named as a conference all-academic team selection during the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons. Aside from his athletics activities, Dowell was a member of several organizations, including the Student Government Association and the Student Wellness and Action Team. He also was named president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Roanoke and was a member of the Roanoke College Admissions Panel. Dowell received the Daniel Poe Klein Scholarship Achievement Award which is presented to a rising senior who has demonstrated outstanding talent in the field of athletics and has shown exemplary moral leadership in the college community. He is currently attending graduate school at West Virginia University, where he is pursing a dual master's degree in business and sport management. Dowell hails from Roanoke, Virginia.

 

Alise Maynard is a graduate of Boston College where she earned an undergraduate degree in history. While at BC, Maynard worked in the athletics department’s external operations and sport marketing office. During that time, she participated in the strategic planning of more than 55 sporting events and volunteered her time in game operations for three football and two hockey seasons. In addition, Maynard was on the Dean’s List and was awarded the Thea Bowman Scholar Award, which is given to a minority student at Boston College who earns a grade point average higher than 3.2. Maynard is currently an intern at the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and is planning to pursue an MBA in sports administration upon the completion of her internship. She is from Turlock, California.

 

Jerryl Randolph graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor's degree in Sports & Fitness. While going to school, Randolph volunteered much of his time to athletic events. He was elected as co-marketing chair for "Nothing But Nets," a non-profit organization in partnership with the NBA whose purpose is raise money to purchase nets for children in Africa to prevent malaria by means of a basketball clinic. Randolph was also co-chair of the operations committee for the UFC/Florida Special Olympics charity golf tournament and was selected as a speaker for "Health Masters" to educate young children about the issue of child obesity and the importance of making healthy decisions. Aside from his hours of volunteer work, Randolph excelled in the classroom and was granted membership into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars for ranking the top 20 percent of his class with a grade point average of 3.7. Randolph has been accepted into postgraduate programs at Central Florida, Florida State and Georgia State University. He is a native of Gotha, Florida.

 

Zachary Ryan Selmon is a graduate of Wake Forest University where he earned a bachelor's degree in religion. Selmon was a four-year starter on the Demon Deacons football team, where he won an ACC championship and started in the 2007 Orange Bowl. He was two-time selection to the Academic All-ACC team and was part of the ACC Honor Roll during his career. Although football took up a great deal of his time, Selmon did not forget the importance of helping others. He is the co-founder of the Shine Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving those in need, with a special emphasis on children’s projects in West Africa. While still an undergraduate at Wake Forest, Selmon coordinated and planned the Foundation’s first project, the construction of the Benjamin T. Britt Academy at Rainbow Town Orphanage in Gbarnga, Liberia. Under his direction, the Foundation has established adult literacy classes in Koryah Village, supports yearly medical team visits to Rainbow Town Orphanage and nearby villages, and identifies and supports the street children in the capital city of Monrovia, Liberia. To date, he has participated in raising more than $200,000 for the Foundation. Selmon is originally from Norman, Oklahoma and is currently working toward his master’s of education with an emphasis on intercollegiate athletics administration at the University of Oklahoma.

 

Aileen Taylor is a 2006 graduate of Ohio University where she received a bachelor’s degree in sport management. As a track and field student-athlete for the Bobcats, Taylor served as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and was selected as the minority student-athlete representative for Ohio at the NCAA Regional Leadership Conference. As the only black female in several of her undergraduate sport management, Taylor realized that intercollegiate athletics lacked in leadership from African-Americans and thus made it her goal to one day be the athletics director at a major Division I institution. She has participated in the athletics arena in several capacities, including coaching in the Utah Jr. Jazz Youth Basketball League, where in 2008 she was recognized as coach of the year; and as a Life Skill Assistant and Academic Advisor in the University of Utah’s athletic department. Taylor is a native of Twinsburg, Ohio. She has recently completed her master’s in education degree at Mercer University and is planning to pursue an additional master’s degree in sport administration from Georgia State University.

 

Natalie Welch attended the University of Tennessee where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in sport management. While at Tennessee, Welch established the first Native American student organization, the Native American Student Association, and served as president. She offered her services to the Tennessee athletics department as a volunteer for athletic hospitality at football games and participated in the Partners in Sports organization for her major. As an undergrad, Welch was placed on the Dean’s List every semester and maintained a 3.89 grade point average. Additionally, she enjoys competitive recreational running. She has run in over a dozen 5K, 10K and half marathon races and plans to start a local running club upon the completion of her first marathon. Welch has been accepted to the University of Central Florida’s DeVos Sport Business program and will pursue a dual degree in business administration and sport management. Welch hails from Cherokee, North Carolina.

 

About the John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Program: The John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Awards are presented to senior-level minority students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in athletics administration. If you have any questions regarding this program, please visit www.mclendonminorityfoundation.com.

 

About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 45th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,300 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. Additionally, NACDA administers 12 professional associations that come under the umbrella of the athletics director. For more information, visit www.nacda.com.