Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Women's swimmer Bryn Handley awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
05/18/2018 | 4:20:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University women's swimmer Bryn Handley has been awarded the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for postgraduate study at a university or professional school. Each sports season, the NCAA awards up to 29 scholarships for men and 29 scholarships for women in the amount of $7,500 for use in an accredited graduate program.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Handley earned a perfect 4.0 GPA at SIU and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy this spring. She was a 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, a three-time MVC Elite 17 Award winner and was named Academic All-American by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America in 2017.
"This NCAA scholarship award speaks volumes about how Bryn approached her entire four years here — the work that she's done, the character that she has," said SIU head coach Rick Walker. "She was all about excellence in the classroom and the pool. It's a well-deserved award."
Handley was one of the program's top distance swimmers, earning All-MVC honors three times and winning the 5k CSCAA Open Water National Championship in 2017. She also placed eighth in the 1,650 meter freestyle at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals. Her remarkable career included winning MVC Swimmer of the Week honors a dozen times.
Southern's swimming & diving program has a long history of academic excellence, having earned CSCAA Scholar All-America team honors every year in Walker's 30 seasons as head coach.
"The history of our success academically sets a standard that even someone as good as Bryn has to strive to achieve," Walker said. "She took those standards and raised the bar in a classy way."
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage graduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership are evaluated. Handley's nomination was submitted by SIU's faculty athletics representative (FAR) Dr. Julie Partridge.
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Handley earned a perfect 4.0 GPA at SIU and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Behavior Analysis and Therapy this spring. She was a 2018 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, a three-time MVC Elite 17 Award winner and was named Academic All-American by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America in 2017.
"This NCAA scholarship award speaks volumes about how Bryn approached her entire four years here — the work that she's done, the character that she has," said SIU head coach Rick Walker. "She was all about excellence in the classroom and the pool. It's a well-deserved award."
Handley was one of the program's top distance swimmers, earning All-MVC honors three times and winning the 5k CSCAA Open Water National Championship in 2017. She also placed eighth in the 1,650 meter freestyle at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals. Her remarkable career included winning MVC Swimmer of the Week honors a dozen times.
Southern's swimming & diving program has a long history of academic excellence, having earned CSCAA Scholar All-America team honors every year in Walker's 30 seasons as head coach.
"The history of our success academically sets a standard that even someone as good as Bryn has to strive to achieve," Walker said. "She took those standards and raised the bar in a classy way."
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage graduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership are evaluated. Handley's nomination was submitted by SIU's faculty athletics representative (FAR) Dr. Julie Partridge.
Players Mentioned
Freestyle
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