CLEVELAND - The six winners of the 19th annual John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Awards were announced today by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and the John McLendon Minority Scholarship Foundation.
"On behalf of the McLendon Foundation, we would like to congratulate this year's scholarship recipients," stated McLendon Foundation President and Director of Athletics at Georgetown University, Lee Reed. "Coach McLendon believed deeply in the value of education and we are proud to honor his legacy by supporting the continued educational pursuits of these six future leaders."
The 2018 John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship recipients are:
| Student |
Undergraduate Institution |
Undergraduate Major |
| Hannah Alsup |
Tennessee State University |
Human Performance and Sports Science |
| Markel Leonard |
Lewis & Clark College |
Rhetoric and Media Studies |
| Keturah Orji |
University of Georgia |
Financial planning |
| Corrine Shigeta |
Oregon State University |
Psychology |
| Travis Walker |
Crown College |
Criminal Justice |
| Andre'as Williams |
The Ohio State University |
Sport Industry |
Through the support of the Fiesta Bowl's endowment commitment to the Foundation, a John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship will be awarded each year to a student associated with an Arizona-based four-year institution. The McLendon Scholarship, presented by the Fiesta Bowl, is being awarded to Markel Leonard who will be pursuing post-graduate work at Arizona State University this Fall.
"Part of our role as leaders and educators is to prepare our next generation for success in their careers," stated Fiesta Bowl Executive Director Mike Nealy. "The Fiesta Bowl is committed to improving lives in the areas of youth, sports and education, so helping Markel on his professional journey in the sports management field is something we're honored to do. We look forward to having a front-row seat in watching his career move forward."
In addition to the Fiesta Bowl, the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) has continued its sponsorship of two of the $10,000 scholarships. A portion of this contribution to the Foundation is in memory of Curtis Jones, former associate athletics director for academic support at West Virginia, who passed away suddenly in September 2013. Jones was a N4A Board Member at the time of his death.
The McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship 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); Capital One; and Sears, Roebuck and Co. As of the 2017-18 academic year, the John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Program has now awarded over 100 scholarships, totaling over $1 million.
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 3.2 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 Scholarship Award can be found below.
Alsup received a bachelor's degree in human performance and sports science from Tennessee State University maintaining a 3.5 GPA. Alsup served as captain of the women's track and field team, President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an Officer of My Sister's Keeper, Inc. and was a member of the Human Performance and Sports Science Club. A seven-time selection to both the Dean's List and the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, Alsup earned an invitation to The National Society of Leadership and Success. She plans to pursue an advanced degree in sports administration at Belmont University.
Leonard graduated with a bachelor's degree in rhetoric and media studies from Lewis & Clark College. A two-time captain on the men's basketball team, Leonard also worked internships in the athletics department assisting in the compliance and athletics communications offices as an undergrad. Leonard's ultimate goal for continuing his education is to empower the next generation of minority students from poverty-ridden areas. He hopes to teach kids growing up in inner cities to use their mind, critical thinking skills and education to escape poverty and realize their individual potential. Leonard plans to attend Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law with an intended major in sports law and business.
Orji earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia, majoring in financial planning and boasting a 3.96 GPA. A track and field stud, Orji was a two-time Southeastern Conference (SEC) Women's Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America® First Team selection and a three-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team honoree. The USTFCCCA also recognized her twice as the Indoor & Outdoor National Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Off the track, Orji was Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a member of the Student-Athlete Leadership Academy, a Team United leader and a member of multiple Honor Societies. She competed for Team USA in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and finished just three centimeters short of a bronze medal in the triple jump. A three-time NCAA National Indoor Champion and a four-time NCAA National Outdoor Champion, Orji plans to pursue a graduate degree in sport management and policy at her alma mater.
Shigeta graduated cum laude from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Maintaining a 3.63 GPA as a member of the swim team, Shigeta earned Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team recognition and was garnered College Swimming Coaches Association (CSCA) Scholar All-American laurels. Shigeta served as a voting member on Oregon State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as well as the Beaver Cup Committee Chair. As Chair, she was charged with redesigning the varsity team competition. During her time in Corvallis, she also participated in Oregon State initiatives Beavers Without Borders, an athletics department service-learning trip, WomenLEAD and College Access, serving as a coach for the mentoring program. Shigeta was also a summer school teacher in between her own academic years. Her plans are to pursue a graduate degree in athletics administration/sports management and leadership.
Walker graduated with a bachelor's degree from Crown College, carrying a 3.5 GPA as a criminal justice major with minors in psychology, counseling and coaching. A three-time captain of the baseball team, Walker was an Academic All-Upper Midwest Athletics Conference selection all four years and was part of the winningest class in program history. He was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He initially planned to move on to become an officer in the United States Air Force, but unfortunately a heart condition prevented him from military service and he decided to pursue a career in athletics administration. Walker is currently working as a graduate assistant in the athletics department at the University of the Incarnate Word, while serving as a student manager for the baseball team. He is expected to complete his master's degree in sport management in May 2019.
Williams graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in sport industry. Holding a 3.7 GPA, he was named to the Dean's List every semester as an undergraduate, while earning the Ohio State Leadership Institute on the African American Male Certificate and the Ohio State Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male Scholars Certificate. While excelling in the classroom, Williams also participated in countless extracurricular activities, including serving as an event management coordinator for the athletics department; spending time as an Ohio State club football advisor and residence hall advisor; working for two years as a tutor for student-athletes; a YMCA sports camp counselor; athletics coordinator of gender equality organization HeForShe; selling tickets for Minor League Baseball's Columbus Clippers for four years; and studying abroad twice in Argentina and Brazil. He is anticipating finishing graduate school in Columbus by December 2019 with a master's degree in sport management.
About the John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Program: The John McLendon Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Awards are presented to 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 the Fiesta Bowl: The Fiesta Bowl's vision is to be a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans. As a nonprofit organization, it believes in the importance of community outreach and service. Through charitable giving, the organization strives to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that contribute to the success of communities through youth, sports and education. Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl has worked to increase its footprint across the state and work to benefit Arizonans year-round, during and outside of bowl season. For more information about its local impact and how to get involved, visit FiestaBowl.org.
About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 54th year, is the professional and educational Association for more than 12,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 6,500 athletics administrators annually attend NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. Additionally, NACDA manages 17 professional associations and three foundations. For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com.
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