Virginia State University Athletics

Virginia State University Department of Athletics provides information from the NCAA that will allow our student-athletes the opportunity to apply for scholarships or grants once they have exhausted their eligibility.  The NCAA has made a pathway of opportunities through awards, scholarships, and grants to further educate college athletes who demonstrate outstanding academic and athletic achievement.

Below are available scholarships for qualifying student-athletes.  For more information, search “scholarships” on the NCAA website, ncaa.org.


Jim McKay Graduate Scholarship
Annually, one male and one female student or student-athlete will be awarded a one-time $10,000 Jim McKay Scholarship in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and their potential to make a major contribution to the sports communication industry or public relations. While McKay scholars do not need a major in communications or journalism, they should demonstrate achievement in sport communication, public relations or at least show an interest in contributing to the field.
 
Qualifications - Students or student-athletes at an active NCAA member institution who:

1. Have an overall undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 3.500 or better (based on a maximum 4.000), or the equivalent in other recognized grading systems;
2. Are in their final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or will not be using any remaining athletics eligibility;
3. Be enrolled in graduate study at an NCAA member institution or be a graduating senior committed to enrolling in a graduate degree program within five years of being named a McKay Scholar;
4. Demonstrate efforts in the communication field or have an interest beyond their major to contribute to sports communication;
5. Ascribe to the highest levels of integrity, including the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, fairness and public accountability;
6. Have evidenced superior character and leadership;
7. Have an understanding and appreciation for the legacy of Jim McKay, his contributions to sport broadcasting and specifically his award-winning oratory on the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

 
Key Dates: Opens September – Deadline January
 
Walter Byers Graduate Scholarship
Annually, one male and one female student-athlete are awarded a $24,000 Walter Byers scholarship in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and potential for success in graduate study. It is intended that an individual named a Byers Scholar will be recognized as one who has combined the best elements of mind and body to achieve national distinction for his or her achievements, and promises to be a future leader in his or her chosen field of career service.
 
Qualifications - To be eligible for consideration, nominees shall:

1. Have an overall undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 3.500 or better (based on a maximum 4.000), or the equivalent in other recognized grading systems;
2. Have competed in intercollegiate athletics as a member of a varsity team at an NCAA member institution;
3. Be a graduating senior or be enrolled in graduate study at an NCAA member institution;
4. Have intentions of applying for admission into a graduate degree program at a properly accredited, nonprofit educational institution or into a post-baccalaureate professional degree program at a professionally accredited law school, medical school, or the equivalent, without restriction as to the national site of the institution;
5. Be committed to work on a full-time basis toward a graduate degree or a post- baccalaureate professional degree;
6. Have evidenced superior character and leadership;
7. Have demonstrated that participation in athletics and community service has been a positive influence on the nominee’s personal and intellectual development;
8. Enroll into a graduate degree program within five years of being named a Byers Scholar and
9. United States citizenship is not a required criterion to satisfy eligibility requirements.

 
Key Dates: Opens September – Deadline January
 
Ethnic Minority and Women’s Enhancement Graduate Scholarship
The NCAA awards $10,000 to 13 ethnic minorities and 13 female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of graduate studies. The applicant must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or program that will help the applicant obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics, such as athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or a career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics. 
 
Eligibility - Students or student-athletes at an active NCAA member institution who:

1. Are at least in their final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or will not be using any remaining athletics eligibility.
2. Have an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.200 (based on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, including all undergraduate hours earned at all undergraduate institutions attended. The grade-point average may not include any graduate-level hours.
3. Are seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or other graduate program that will assist the applicant in obtaining a career in intercollegiate athletics (athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or other career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics).
4. Must enroll in an NCAA member institution on a full-time basis.
5. Are outstanding citizens and excellent role models for the institution and intercollegiate athletics.
6. Applicants must have performed with distinction as a student body member at their respective undergraduate institution. The applicant's involvement in extracurricular activities, course work, commitment to pursuing a career in intercollegiate athletics and promise for success in such a career will be considered.

 
Key Dates: Opens September – Deadline February
 
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created 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.  
 
Who is eligible? - Student-athletes at an active NCAA member institution who:

1. Must be in final season of NCAA athletics eligibility or must have completed athletic eligibility,
2. Must be in final year of undergraduate academic work or received an undergraduate degree.
3. Have an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.200 (based on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, including all undergraduate hours earned at all undergraduate institutions attended. The grade-point average may not include any graduate-level hours.
4. Have performed with distinction as a varsity team member in the sport in which the student-athlete is being nominated. The degree of the student-athlete's athletics achievement will be weighed in conjunction with academic performance, institutional involvement and volunteer community service. In particular, nominators and individuals submitting recommendations should note participation in activities in which the student-athlete serves as an example to other students and demonstrates leadership qualities.
5. Must enroll in a graduate degree granting program on a part- or full-time basis at an academically accredited graduate or degree-granting professional school.
6. Must be enrolled in a graduate degree granting program within one-year after the academic year the scholarship was awarded.  All funds must be used within the same academic year.
7. The scholarship cannot be used to fund any undergraduate work.
8. Are outstanding citizens and excellent role models for the institution and intercollegiate athletics as a whole.

 
Key Dates:
            Fall: Opens September – Deadline January
            Winter: Opens January – Deadline April
            Spring: Opens March – Deadline June
 
Division II Degree Completion Award
The NCAA established the Division II Degree Completion Award Program to provide deserving student-athletes financial assistance to complete their first baccalaureate degree. Candidates will be student-athletes who have exhausted their athletics eligibility.
 
Requirements for the Award

1. Applicant shall be a student-athlete who has completed athletics eligibility at an active NCAA Division II institution.
2. Applicant must be within 36 semester hours (54 quarter hours) of completion of an undergraduate degree.
3. The degree must be completed within 10-semesters (15 quarters).
4. Applicant must be meeting the institution’s standard for good academic standing.
5. Applicant cannot concurrently receive any athletics aid from the institution.
6. Applicant must use the award to complete the first undergraduate degree requirements from the institution where the student-athlete exhausted his or her athletics eligibility.

 
Key Dates: Opens October – Deadline February
 
NCAA Woman of the Year
The NCAA Woman of the Year program honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes.
 
To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate.
 
Head Coaches will nominate a female student-athlete from their respective sport.
 
The Eligible female student-athletes are nominated by VSU and submitted to the CIAA Conference Office. Each conference office then reviews the nominations from its core member schools (and sponsored sports) and submits its conference nominee(s) to the NCAA.  The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee identifies the Top 30 – 10 from each division – and from there selects three finalists from each division. From the nine finalists, the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics then selects the NCAA Woman of the Year, who will be named this fall.
 
•           The nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA sponsored sport.
•           The nominee must have earned her undergraduate degree
•           The nominee must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.50 on a         4.00 scale.
•           All information on the student-athlete nomination form, including the personal          statement and school verification form, with signatures from the nominee,         Associate VP for Intercollegiate Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator and      Assistant AD for Sports Communications, must be completed and uploaded in the          NCAA Program Hub. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.