INDIANAPOLIS – Augustana women's golfer McKayla Poppens has been awarded the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship the NCAA recently announced.

The NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships annually to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The one-time $10,000 award is given three times a year, corresponding to each sport season (fall, winter and spring). Nominations come from each school's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR). 

"McKayla is an exceptional scholar, inspirational leader, and gifted athlete," Dr. Marcia Entwistle, Augustana's FAR, said. "She epitomizes Augustana's most important values: excellence, inclusion, and service."

Poppens is the 39th Post Graduate Scholar for Augustana. She is the second women's golfer to achieve this award, the first being former teammate Jordan Bormann in 2017, both under head coach Peggy Kirby.

"I am so very proud of McKayla," Coach Kirby said. "She has worked so hard in the classroom and also had a great golf career at Augustana. It takes much dedication to be a successful student athlete and she was committed to excellence."

The Tea, South Dakota, native played thirteen rounds over six events throughout her senior year and had an average of 80.92 strokes per round. She also had one top-five finish and one top-ten finish. The spring season was cut short due to COVID-19. 

McKayla will be attending the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in the fall. 

"I am honored to represent Augustana University with receipt of this scholarship and thankful to Augustana and the NCAA for selecting me." McKayla said. 

McKayla is the second Viking this year to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, Ben Kelvington of Augustana wrestling received one for the winter season.

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Mission Statement

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage graduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership are evaluated.  An equitable approach is employed in reviewing an applicant's nomination form to provide all student-athlete nominees an opportunity to receive the graduate award, regardless of sport, division, gender or race.  In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through graduate study.

--GoAugie.com--