SPRINGFIELD – Three students at the University of Illinois at Springfield – Priyanka Deo, Allison Leight, and Sarah Wellard – were among 20 recipients of Avery Brundage Scholarships, made to U of I students who excel in both academics and athletics. Each will receive $2,500 for the 2007-2008 academic year.
Deo is a sophomore from Chicago. She is majoring in Political Studies and is a member of the women's tennis team.
Leight, a senior, is majoring in Mathematical Science and has a minor in Computer Science. She is from Lake Forest and is a pitcher on the women's softball team.
Wellard is from Springfield. She is a junior majoring in Legal Studies with a minor in Psychology and is also a member of UIS' cheerleading/spirit squad.
Brundage scholarship recipients are selected by a committee representing the faculties and student bodies of the three U of I campuses. Students chosen must engage in athletics for personal development, not as preparation for professional sports; must be working toward bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees at the U of I; and must be in the upper 25 percent of their undergraduate class or in good academic standing in their graduate program.
The scholarships were established in 1974 by an endowment from Avery Brundage, University of Illinois alumnus and former president of the International and U.S. Olympic committees. Since 1974, 757 scholarships have been awarded, totaling $908,700.
Details about the Brundage scholarship program are available at www.usp.uillinois.edu/brundage.
