DePaul University Athletics
Hrynko and Podkowa Named I-AAA Scholar Athletes
4/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
I-AAA Scholar-Athlete Release
CLEVELAND -- DePaul standouts Brittany Hrynko and Megan Podkowa were two of the 10 women's basketball student-athletes that were named to the 13th Annual Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar-Athlete Team it was announced on Friday.
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"Our Association congratulates this year's scholar-athlete award winners," stated Tim Hall, chair of the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team Selection Committee and athletics director at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. "We pride ourselves in honoring deserving student-athletes who exemplify I-AAA athletics and this year is no different, as we recognize the scholar-athletes of the year and the postgraduate scholarship recipients for their outstanding accomplishments."
Hrynko, who was named the 2015 BIG EAST Scholar Athlete of the Year, is on track to graduate from DePaul with a degree in sociology and a concentration in health and human services in June. The Philadelphia native is a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team honoree, a four-time Dean's List choice, and a nine-time DePaul AD Honor Roll selection.
Hrynko boasts a 3.31 GPA and was named an honorable mention All-American by both the Associated Press and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). On Thursday, Hrynko put an exclamation point on her career by being selected as the 19th overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft. She graduates from DePaul as the program's all-time assists leader (680) and is fifth in points (1,970). Â
Podkowa -- a junior -- was boasts a 3.86 GPA and is majoring Mathematical Sciences with a concentration in actuarial sciences. The forward is on track to become DePaul's next 1,000-point scorer and was named the Most Outstanding Player at the 2015 BIG EAST Women's Basketball Tournament. Â
The Glenview, Ill. native, led the Blue Demons in rebounding (6.4 rpg), field goal percentage (.526), 3-point field goal percentage (.409) and blocks (43). Podkowa was second on the team in scoring with 14.2 points per game.
Hrynko and Podkowa become DePaul's 10th and 11th I-AAA Scholar Athletes while a Blue Demon has been honored a total of 15 times. Allie Quigley was named the I-AAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2006 and in 2008.
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees was required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, he/she must have reached JUNIOR academic standing at their institution (ineligible athletics transfers are not eligible). To be eligible for the postgraduate scholarship, he/she must have completed eight semesters or the equivalent number of quarters at their institution. Preference was given to those on track to graduate in spring/summer 2015.
Additionally, from the Scholar-Athlete teams, one male and female student-athlete was selected as the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Receiving the women's honor was Jennifer Dumiak, a mathematics major from American University, with a 4.0 GPA; while the men's award went to Craig Bradshaw, a public relations major from Belmont University, who holds a 3.51 GPA.
Jenna Cobb, a communications study major from Florida Gulf Coast University with a 3.59 GPA, and John Kopriva, a chemistry major from George Washington University, with a 3.93 GPA, were selected as the 2015 postgraduate scholarship recipients. Each will receive $5,000 towards postgraduate studies and will be given their awards during the Association's annual membership meeting being held in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, at the World Center Marriott Resort in Orlando, Fla., June 15-18.   Â
About Division I-AAA ADA: Now in its 14th year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (the 99 Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. For more information on the Division I-AAA ADA, please visit www.div1aaa-ada.com. The Division I-AAA ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 50th year. For more information on NACDA and the 14 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
