Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Swimmer David Parkins Named 2001 MVC Postgraduate Scholarship Award
06/26/2001 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
June 20, 2001
St. Louis, MO. - David Parkins of Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Kristin Santa of Drake University have been named the 2001 Missouri Valley Conference male and female postgraduate scholarship winners, respectively, Valley Commissioner Doug Elgin announced today.
The Missouri Valley Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives Committee voted to award postgraduate scholarships to both Parkins and Santa, due to their exemplary academic and athletic performances. Both student-athletes will receive a $5,000 postgraduate scholarship from the conference.
Parkins, a senior from Pittsfield, Ill., received all-conference swimming honors four times (1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001) for the Saluki swim team. Parkins has a cumulative 4.00 grade-point average in biology and has earned MVC Scholar-Athlete honors in 1999, 2000, 2001. He will continue his education at the University of Illinois in the fall of 2001 pursuing a degree in medicine.
Parkins is a nine-time MVC champion and a member of the conference-winning 200-yard free relay team, 400-yard free relay and 200 medley relay teams in 2000. At the recent 2001 conference championships, Parkins swam on the Salukis' champion 200-medley relay and 200-yard free relay teams.
To be eligible for consideration, recipients must have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00, participated with distinction in a Missouri Valley Conference championship sport for at least two seasons at the nominating institution and must graduate from their institutions within 18 months following selection at the spring meetings of the Faculty Athletics Representative Committee.
Also, the recipients must be accepted for postgraduate studies at an institution of higher learning at the time of receipt of the scholarship. And, the recipients must have completed eligibility for participation in intercollegiate athletics in the academic year in which nominated.
Santa was a member of three NCAA Tournament teams for the Drake women's basketball program. She has a 3.78 cumulative GPA in pharmacy and is pursuing a doctorate of pharmacy degree at Drake.
This past season Santa was named first-team MVC Scholar-Athlete, honorable mention all-MVC and a member of the All-Defensive team while leading the league in assists with 4.40 a game. She ranks seventh all-time in the conference in career three-point goals and 15th in career assists.
