The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
James Oliver Receives C-USA Postgraduate Scholarship
6/26/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 26, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- James Oliver, who recently completed his collegiate baseball career at UAB, has been honored by Conference USA with the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship. C-USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky named this year's 12 scholarship recipients Friday with one winner coming from each of the league's schools.
The conference annually presents the $4,000 Postgraduate Scholarship awards to graduates as selected by the C-USA Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Board of Directors. This is the first year the award has been named for Dr. Castañeda, who served Rice University for 46 years as an educator, coach and Faculty Athletics Representative before he passed away last November.
Oliver recently graduated with a 3.85 overall GPA and will begin medical school at UAB in July. He is a two-time C-USA All-Academic Team selection and was named the 2009 C-USA Scholar-Athlete of the Year for baseball. Earlier this year, Oliver was chosen as one of 30 nationwide candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
A native of Vestavia Hills, Ala., Oliver has also been actively involved in the Birmingham community. He has served as a mentor in the Big Brothers program and volunteered his time in various capacities at UAB hospital. Earlier this month, Conference USA recognized him with its Spirit of Service Award.
As a pitcher, Oliver appeared in 58 career games, logging 142.2 innings on the mound and posting eight career wins. He pitched in 15 games with nine starts in 2009 while holding opponents to a .269 batting average and helping the Blazers to a 31-26 overall record.
2008-09 POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Nicole Moore, East Carolina, Women's Soccer
Shelby Scott, Houston, Women's Soccer
Camilla Overup, Marshall, Women's Swimming
Kathryn Murphy, Memphis, Women's Soccer
Eleanor "Lennie" Waite, Rice, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Jennifer Basel, SMU, Women's Swimming
Brittney Jones, Southern Miss, Softball
Jen Linder, Tulane, Volleyball
April Montgomery, Tulsa, Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
James Oliver, UAB, Baseball
Sha'Reff Rashad, UCF, Football
Daidre Mendenhall, UTEP, Volleyball
