Spiry Receives Big 12 Postgraduate Scholarship

Lincoln native Rachel Spiry, a four-year member of the Nebraska rifle team, was chosen as one of 13 recipients of a $5,000 Big 12 Conference Postgraduate Scholarship, the league office announced Monday.

A second-team academic All-American in 2001, Spiry owns a perfect 4.0 GPA in mathematics and was named to the Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District VII first team earlier this year. She also earned Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association Academic Scholar honors in 2000 and 2001. A three-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board, Spiry served as the board's president in 2001-02.

Criteria for the award include a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, participation in at least two years of intercollegiate athletics at the scholar-athletes' respective institution and completion of athletic eligibility. The scholar-athletes also must graduate from their respective member institutions within 15 months of their selection as postgraduate scholarship recipients and are expected to enroll in graduate/professional schools within two years after graduation.

Spiry is the seventh Husker to receive the prestigious award.

Nebraska's Big 12 Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients

2001-02 - Rachel Spiry (rifle)

2000-01 - Amie Jorgensen (cross country/track and field)

1999-00 - Isabelle Morneau (soccer) and Brian Shaw (football)

1998-99 - Kate Benson (basketball)

1996-97 - Shelly Bartlett (gymnastics) and Ted Harris (gymnastics)