The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Soccer Standout Briana McCarty Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
3/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
March 14, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB soccer standout Briana McCarty, a senior on the 2004 team, was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, it was announced by the NCAA on Monday.
McCarty, a Lawrenceville, Ga., native, is the second UAB soccer player in history to be given the prestigious honor, joining Lisa Nowoslawski, who received the scholarship in 2003. McCarty is one of just 29 female student-athletes in the nation to receive the scholarship this year.
According to the NCAA's web site, www.ncaasports.com, the scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.
The one-time grants of $7,500 each are awarded for fall sports, winter sports and spring sports. Each sports season (fall, winter and spring), there are 29 scholarships available for men and 29 scholarships available for women. The scholarships are one-time, non-renewable grants. Eligibility is restricted to student-athletes at NCAA member institutions who, in their final year of eligibility, have performed with distinction as members of varsity teams in the sport for which they were nominated. Nominees must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.200 (based on a 4.000 scale), be nominated by the faculty athletics representative or designee, and intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a part-time or full-time graduate student.
"I am very happy that the NCAA has recognized what a truly special person we have in Briana McCarty, what a wonderful honor," said UAB head coach Paul Harbin. "I am so proud of Bri. To be among the top 29 female student-athletes across all sports is an amazing accomplishment."
She finished her illustrious career as one of the most decorated players in school history, as McCarty picked up nine individual awards during and after this past season alone. McCarty maintains a 3.93 gpa in psychology.
McCarty was recently accepted into the doctoral program in occupational therapy at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., which is currently rated the No. 3 program in the country according to US News and World Report.
