Julie Amthor awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
July 19, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas -- Former University of Texas Women's Track & Field student-athlete Julie Amthor has been honored with an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship following her graduation this past spring. Amthor, who will enroll in medical school this fall at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, was one of just 29 female student-athletes nationally to receive the prestigious award. She becomes just the second Women's Track and Field member to earn a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, joining Erin Simms who received the accolade in 2003. "I'm just really proud to represent The University of Texas in this way," Amthor said. "It's a national award, so for me to receive it on behalf of The University of Texas really reflects the quality of the program, the athletics department and the school. I'm just so excited to be able to represent my school that way." The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually to student-athletes who achieve in both the academic and athletic arenas. The one-time, $7,500 grant is given to up to 29 men and 29 women in their final year of athletic eligibility for each of the fall, winter and spring seasons. "Receiving an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship is a significant achievement, given the competitiveness and caliber of the applicant pool," said UT Women's Athletics Director Chris Plonsky. "Julie has always set high goals and standards, personally and with her teams. She's been a student dedicated to excellence in all endeavors, and we are proud she's earned this prestigious honor to help her pursue her graduate studies." Amthor graduated in May with an impressive 3.972 cumulative grade point average in Biology Honors. In addition to maintaining her remarkable academic record and competing for Texas' cross country and track and field squads, Amthor was heavily involved in undergraduate research, working in a synthetic organic chemistry lab and studying medicinal drug design. She was also active in UT's Hispanic Health Professions Organization, through which she enjoyed opportunities for community service and greater exposure to the medical field.
Amthor's academic honors as an undergraduate were numerous, including earning a spot on the USTFCCCA Division I All-Academic Cross Country Team three times. She also was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree for track and field and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team for cross country twice. Amthor earned a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll during each of her eight semesters of academic coursework at UT. "How thrilled we are for Julie that she won the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship," said Dr. Randa Ryan, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services. "It is a wonderful honor and so well deserved. Julie dedicated herself to academic excellence from the moment she stepped on campus and we couldn't be more proud." Amthor also left her mark on Texas athletically. She currently owns the Longhorn record in the Distance Medley Relay along with teammates Stacey-Ann Smith, Marielle Hall and Betzy Jimenez. The team set the record with a time of 11:14.53 at the 2011 Big 12 Indoor Championships, besting the previous mark by five seconds. Amthor also was an eight-time All-Big 12 honoree and earned NCAA All-South Central Region honors during her 2010 cross country campaign. "We are so excited for Julie," said Texas women's track and field head coach Beverly Kearney. "She has so many opportunities in front of her. It's wonderful for this to have happened to such an exceptional student and person." To qualify for an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent. In addition, he or she must have performed with distinction as a member of a varsity team and must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student. |
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