Simpson, Bruce Earn Big 12 Postgraduate Scholarships

Lincoln ? Nebraska women’s gymnast Richelle Simpson and baseball player Daniel Bruce were among 24 Big 12 Conference honorees selected to receive the 2004-05 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarships. The two seniors, who were honored this Spring as Nebraska’s 2005 Student-Athletes of the Year, will each be awarded a $6,900 scholarship for their postgraduate studies.

Simpson, a native of Toronto, Ontario, was a nine-time All-American during her Husker gymnastics career and was crowned the 2003 NCAA all-around and floor exercise champion. A 2005 Academic All-District VII honoree, she was also named NU’s first AAI American Award winner this year. Simpson, a nine-time Big 12 champion and two-time academic all-conference selection, led the Huskers to their seventh straight NCAA Championships appearance and earned her degrees in French and international studies in May.

Hailing from Omaha, Neb., Bruce is an English major who garnered second-team academic All-America honors earlier this week. The senior outfielder was chosen first-team academic All-Big 12 for his success in the classroom while also earning second-team all-conference honors for his performance on the field. Bruce was a key contributor to NU’s run to NCAA Regional action this year, leading the Huskers to the Big 12 regular-season title as well as the conference tournament championship in Oklahoma City, Okla. He is hitting .309 with 30 RBIs and four homeruns heading into the NCAA Lincoln Regional to be held at Hawks Field this weekend.

Criteria for the awards include a cumulative grade-point average of 3.500 on a 4.000 scale, participation in at least two years of intercollegiate athletics at the nominee’s respective institution and completion of athletics’ eligibility. The student-athletes also must graduate from their respective member institutions within 15 months of their selection for a postgraduate scholarship and are expected to enroll in graduate/professional schools within two years of graduation. Three faculty representatives, one senior woman administrator and one director of athletics form the selection group for the awards.