July 5, 2012

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott announced the 48 outstanding Pac-12 student-athletes who have been named recipients of Pac-12 Postgraduate Scholarships for the 2011-12 academic year.

University of Arizona winners are Trace Biskin (Westlake Village, Calif.) of football, Rebecca Cardenas (Honolulu) of gymnastics, and divers Andres Guerra (Sugarland, Texas) and Ainsley Oliver (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan).

These $3,000 awards go 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 over $1.5 million for postgraduate study.

To be selected for a Pac-12 Postgraduate Scholarship, a student-athlete must:

• Have an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale) or its equivalent.

• Be in his/her final season of intercollegiate athletics eligibility in all sports OR be in his/her final year of undergraduate studies, having exhausted athletics eligibility in all sports. The student-athlete will be evaluated on the basis of all academic work completed at time of selection.

• Have performed with distinction as a member of a varsity team. The degree of the student-athlete's athletic achievement will be weighed at least equally with the degree of academic performance.

•Intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time student in a graduate or professional program at an accredited institution, or in a postgraduate program for which an undergraduate degree is required for admission.

•Have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics.

In 1999, the Pac-12 Conference created a postgraduate scholarship program to honor outstanding student-athletes from its member institutions who also are outstanding scholars. Each Pac-12 institution selects four student-athlete recipients, two men and two women, through its institutional selection process.

At this time, Biskin, who has a final year of eligibility in 2012, has been accepted to a master's program in international security at UA. Cardenas is applying to several master's and post-baccalaureate programs in nursing for fall of 2012. Guerra is applying to medical school and also is projecting a fall 2013 start, and Oliver has applied to med school at the University of Saskatchewan for fall of 2013.

The 2011-12 recipients by institution.

Arizona: Trace Biskin-Football, Rebecca Cardenas-Gymnastics, Andres Guerra-Diving, Ainsley Oliver-Diving

Arizona State: Hillary Bach-Softball, Cameron Kastl-Football, John Kline-Track & Field, CJ Navarro-Track & Field

California: Maxime Chevee-Cross Country/Track & Field, Shelley Harper-Swimming, Jana Juricova-Tennis, Giorgio Tavecchio-Football

Colorado: Katie Dreher-Track & field, Caroline Danneberg-Soccer, Trey Eckloff-Basketball, Tony Poremba-Football

Oregon: Bronwyn Crossman-Track & field, Amanda Johnson-Basketball, David Paulson-Football, Brian Schaudt-Track & field

Oregon State: Meghan Leineweber-Rowing, Leslie Mak-Gymnastics, Brian Ramsey-Soccer, Leslie Urban-Rowing

Stanford: Clayton Holz-Soccer, Amaechi Morton-Track & Field, Nneka Ogwumike-Basketball, Betsy Webb-Swimming

UCLA: Charney Burk-Soccer, Brooke Finley-Softball, Nick Meister-Tennis, Mark Weber-Track & Field

USC: Brianna Gilbreath-Basketball, Daniel Nguyen-Tennis, Amanda Smith-Swimming, Greg Woodburn-Track

Utah: Alyssa Abbot-Track & Field, Eric Bonicelli-Swimming, Hannah Caron-Swimming, Torjus Krogdahl-Skiing

Washington: Sarah Martinez-Soccer, Sam Osjerkis-Crew, Veronica Tamsitt-Crew, Gregory Walker-Football

Washington State: Jake Baertlein-Track & Field, Jared Karstetter-Football, Tiara Pittman-Soccer, Rosemarie Tarnowski-Basketball