April 29, 2008

BOSTON - Senior Marisa Ryan of the Boston University women's indoor track and field team has been awarded an educational grant through the NCAA postgraduate scholarship program. Ryan was one of 58 winter-sport student-athletes nationwide who was selected to receive a grant of $7,500 for postgraduate study.

Ryan earned All-America honors this season in the 3000-meters with a 9:12.83 at the NCAA championship, placing fifth in the nation. She was named the America East Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year in both 2006 and 2007 for her efforts on the track, in the classroom and in the community. Ryan was the only student-athlete from a New England institution or from the America East to be selected this winter.

The NCAA postgraduate 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 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the NCAA's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports.