Three Ducks Earn Postgraduate Scholarships
Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott announced that Oregon track and field’s Tanguy Pepiot and Lauren Crockett, and volleyball’s Shellsy Ashen were selected as recipients of Pac-12 Postgraduate Scholarships, Friday. The three Ducks were part of the group of 47 student-athletes from the Pac-12 to receive the $3,000 scholarship awarded to students who have also exhausted their athletic eligibility with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and plan to continue their education. Since the program began in 1999, the Pac-12 has awarded more than $1.5 million for postgraduate study. Pepiot, finished his undergraduate degree in general social science with a 3.86 cumulative GPA, and scored for the Ducks in the steeplechase at the 2014 NCAA Championships. Crockett finished her career with four All-America awards in the high jump and graduated with a 3.51 GPA in advertising. Ashen played a key role as Oregon’s setter during the team’s march to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2014. She graduated with a degree in marine biology, holding a 3.41 GPA.
Four Beavers Receive Post-Grad Scholarships
Four distinguished Oregon State University student-athletes have been awarded Pac-12 Conference postgraduate scholarships, league commissioner Larry Scott announced Thursday. The foursome of Beavers includes Nicholas Aerne (rowing), Zachary Cardwell (wrestling), Melanie Dembinski (softball) and Lauren Fischer (golf). Aerne was a four-year letterman for the men’s rowing team and twice earned mention on the Pac-12 all-academic roster, including first team in 2014. The Glencoe High School graduate also was a member of the Intercollegiate Rowing Association’s academic team. Aerne graduated with a bachelor’s degree from OSU in mechanical engineering and will continue his educational pursuits as a master’s of engineering student in Corvallis. He hopes to become a professor at a university in the future. Cardwell is a graduate of Lowell High School in Lowell, Ore., and earned three letters as a Beaver wrestler, compiling an overall record of 45-15. He has been involved in numerous community service activities, including the IMPACT Program (physical activity program for children) and as a student teacher at several local Corvallis elementary and middle schools. The six-time OSU Honor Roll member is a graduate of OSU with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science, and intends to pursue his master’s degree in physical education. He aspires to be a physical education teacher. Dembinski is a native of Venice, Fla., and has received her bachelor’s degree in economics from OSU. The two-year letterwinner transferred to the Beavers from Central Arizona Community College. She served on OSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and has interned with the University’s Foundation and athletic marketing department. Dembinski is pursuing a master’s degree in education policy in hopes of working in the non-profit sector to promote higher education opportunities to all social classes. Fischer is a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in Portland and anticipates receiving her bachelor’s degree in public health, management and policy next month. The four-year letterwinner has earned a place on OSU’s Honor Roll six times. She has been one of the most active student-athletes outside of competition at OSU, including being a part of the Beavers Without Borders initiative, Relay for Life, Habitat for Humanity, and as the SAAC president. She intends to earn a master’s degree in public health with a goal of being a hospital administrator. Each scholarship of $3,000 is presented to student-athletes with a minimum 3.0 grade point average who have also demonstrated a commitment to continuing education, campus and community involvement and leadership. Since the program began in 1999, the Pac-12 has awarded more than $1.5 million for postgraduate study.