Nov. 21, 2009
Student receives prestigious NCAA postgraduate scholarship
July 07, 2009GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University runner Greg Kuczynski received a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship for track and field.
Every year, the NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships, 87 for men and 87 for women. The recipients are student-athletes in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition that excel both academically and athletically. The one-time, nonrenewable grant of $7,500 is awarded to 29 men and 29 women in each of the three sports seasons (fall, winter and spring).
In May, Kuczynski (sr. Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Mem.) graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in civil engineering. His 3.947 GPA ranked highest among Rowan’s student-athletes. He earned 2009 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country third team honors. He is also a two-time CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II selection.
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship began in 1964. It was created to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the NCAA’s most accomplished student-athletes. The evaluation process includes athletics, academic achievements, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership. An equitable approach is employed in reviewing each applicant’s nomination form to provide opportunity to all student-athlete nominees, regardless of sport, division, gender or race. The program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study in an accredited graduate degree program.
This season, Kuczynski was chosen to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team for the third time. Kuczynski was named to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Cross Country All-Conference second team for the fourth season in a row and he collected NJAC All-Academic first team honors for the second consecutive year. Kuczynski was named the 2008 Philadelphia Inquirer Cross Country Academic All-Area Performer of the Year and to the Academic All-Area Team for the fourth consecutive year.
In outdoor track, he posted Rowan’s top time in the 3000 meters (8:58.73) and was second in the 5000 meters (15:25.79). Kuczynski was also part of the Profs’ top 4x800 meter relay that recorded a time of 8:29.81. In cross country, Kuczynski finished 56th at the NCAA Atlantic Regional with a time of 27:20. He took eighth at the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships (26:22.80). Kuczynski was the individual winner at the Delaware Invitational with a time of 27:04. He recorded season bests of 26:22.80 in the 8K and 19:50.70 in the 6K.
