W-Swim: Egenolf, Van den Branden Earn Postgrad Scholarships

[PonyPride]

From SMUMustangs.com:

Egenolf, Van den Branden Earn NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships

May 4, 2011

DALLAS (SMU) - SMU diver Audra Egenolf and women's swimmer Sascha Van den Branden have each received NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships.

"We are very excited about Audra and Sascha earning the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship," head coach Steve Collins said. "This is a tribute to their hard work and dedication as student-athletes. We offer our congratulations to them both and wish them continued success in their postgraduate programs."

Egenolf is a four-time All-American, earning honors in both three-meter and platform diving. She was named the Conference USA Diver of the Meet at this year's conference championships, winning the one-meter event, and taking runner-up honors in three-meter and platform diving. The seven-time C-USA Diver of the Week was also a member of the USA Diving National Team, competing in 2009 World University Games where the team won a bronze medal. Egenolf holds a 3.982 GPA and graduates later this month with a degree in accounting. With her scholarship, the Indianapolis native will pursue a Master's of Science in Accounting from the University of Indiana. Last month, Egenolf was one of three SMU students to receive the Presidential Award of Excellence. She was also selected as the Cox School of Business's Outstanding Accounting Major for 2011 and was honored with the Meyer Brothers' Award in 2010. She is a four-time C-USA Academic Medalist as well as a four-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll selection.

Van den Branden is a six-time All-American earning the distinction in the 200-, 400- and 800-yard freestyle relays. Van den Branden missed the second half of the 2010-11 season due to surgery, but she finishes her career as an 11-time Conference USA Champion and was the 2008 Freshman of the Year. Van den Branden holds a 3.808 GPA in marketing. The Ruiselede, Belgium, native plans to return to Belgium to study international business management. She, along with Egenolf, garnered her third selection to the Conference USA All-Academic team last month. Van den Branden is also a four-time C-USA Academic Medal recipient and a four-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member. The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for women. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition.

[pwnyxpress]

Congrats to the two of you!