Scholarships to be Presented at Big Red Fall Classic

Juniors Julie Brechtel and Heidi Foland will be presented with the Husker softball program’s two endowed scholarships this weekend during the Big Red Fall Classic at Bowlin Stadium. Brechtel will be presented with the Richard Raimondi Memorial Scholarship, while Foland will receive the Julie Geis Memorial Scholarship.

The Raimondi Scholarship was the first fully endowed scholarship for a female student-athlete at Nebraska. In December of 2001, the family of former Husker Melanie Raimondi created the scholarship in the name of her deceased father, Richard. Members of the Raimondi family will be on hand to present the scholarship to Brechtel on Saturday prior to the Huskers’ 3 p.m. game with South Dakota.

A Fullerton, Calif., native, Brechtel is entering her third season as Nebraska’s starting second baseman. She enjoyed a breakout season in 2009, matching Foland for the team lead with six home runs, while batting .313. Brechtel earned a spot on the Big 12 all-tournament team and one selection as the Big 12 player of the week. In the classroom, Brechtel was a first-team academic All-Big 12 selection in 2009, and she has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in each of her first four semesters.

The Geis Scholarship is named in honor of former Husker Julie Geis, who was a victim of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. The scholarship, which became fully endowed in August of 2006, is presented annually to a Husker softball player from the state of Nebraska, as Julie was a native of Beaver Crossing. Members of the Geis family will be on hand to present the scholarship to Foland on Sunday prior to the Huskers’ 5:30 p.m. game with UNO.

A Grand Island native, Foland has started 94 games in her first two seasons at Nebraska. She became the first freshman to earn Big 12 player-of-the-week honors in seven seasons in 2008 and in 2009, Foland blasted six home runs to tie Brechtel for the team lead. A pre-physical therapy major, Foland was a 2009 first-team academic All-Big 12 selection, and she has earned spots on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in each of her first four semesters.

In addition to the scholarship presentations, the Huskers will also be wearing pink this weekend and accepting pledges and donations to Strike Out Breast Cancer. Admission is free for both days of the Big Red Fall Classic and fans are invited to attend. Action begins at 10 a.m. both days.

Big Red Fall Classic Schedule (Free Admission)
Saturday, Oct. 3
Bellevue vs. UNO, 10 a.m.
Nebraska vs. UNO, 12:30 p.m.
**Richard Raimondi Memorial Scholarship Presentation, 2:30 p.m.**
Nebraska vs. South Dakota, 3 p.m.
Bellevue vs. South Dakota, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 4
Bellevue vs. South Dakota, 10 a.m.
South Dakota vs. UNO, 12:30 p.m.
Nebraska vs. Bellevue, 3 p.m.
**Julie Geis Scholarship Memorial Presentation, 5 p.m.**
Nebraska vs. UNO, 5:30 p.m.