Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Cole awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
08/07/2019 | 2:51:00 | Swimming & Diving
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Former Southern Illinois University men's swimmer Chris Cole received the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, an award worth $10,000 granted to 126 student-athletes annually in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.
Given since 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship is given to 21 male and 21 female student-athletes each fall, winter and spring season. To qualify, student-athletes must be in their final year of eligibility, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2, plan to pursue graduate coursework and have participated at a varsity level in their respective sport.
A native of Portage, Mich., Cole graduated this past spring with a 3.97 cumulative GPA and a bachelor's degree in Journalism. He was a three-time MAC All-Academic team selection and was named a CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-American and CSCAA (College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America) Academic All-American in 2017. Cole earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in 2019.
In the pool, Cole was a two-time All-MAC honoree and one of the program's top mid-distance swimmers. He won eight events during his senior campaign and earned points in three individual events at the 2019 MAC Championships. He also inserted his name into the SIU record book, as he swam the second and fifth-fastest 400-IM times in program history.
Cole will continue his education this fall at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA., where he plans to pursue a master's degree in Art Direction.
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