July 26, 2016
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt University is excited to announce that the NCAA has awarded Rhys Johnson with a postgraduate scholarship. Johnson, an Economics major on the men’s tennis team will receive $7,500, which will assist him as he pursues a graduate or professional degree in the near future.
The NCAA awards postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who are in their final year of college athletics eligibility. Up to 175 scholarships are awarded each year for use toward an accredited graduate program. Awardees are evaluated on their academic and athletics achievement, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership. The program rewards college athletes whose dedication and effort reflect the characteristics needed to succeed in postgraduate study.
Awardees are chosen by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, which includes faculty athletics representatives, athletics administrators and a conference representative.
Johnson, a native of Perth, Australia, is the first Commodore in four years to be awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. His invaluable leadership this season guided VU past four ITA top-25 teams and to the ‘Dores 15th NCAA tournament appearance.
Rhys Johnson’s Vanderbilt Highlights:
– Six-time Dean’s List at Vanderbilt
– ITA All-American in Doubles (2015, 2016)
– ITA Scholar Athlete (2015, 2016)
– Three-time Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll (2014, 2015, 2016)
– 2x NCAA doubles tournament participant (2015, 2016)
– Developed independent 60-page economic research paper that identified changes in Australia sport league’s competitive balance
– Attended London School of Economics Summer school program
– H. Boyd McWhorter Award nominee
– Co-Facilitator of Green Dot Program at Vanderbilt designed to decrease power-based personal violence on campus
– Sat atop the ITA doubles rankings as No. 1 in country from Feb. 24 – Mar. 10, 2015.
– USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships doubles Semifinalist (2015)
– USTA/ITA Division I Men’s Ohio Valley Regional Doubles Champion (2015)
– Tennis Team Captain (2015-16)
– Member of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee
– Majoring in Economics with a 3.520 GPA
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Program:
The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually. The scholarships, which were created in 1964, are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.
The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $7,500 are awarded three times a year corresponding to each sport season (fall, winter and spring). Each sports season there are 29 scholarships available for men and 29 scholarships available for women for use in an accredited graduate program.
