Oklahoma State University Athletics
Kujawa, Monaghan Named Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
June 03, 2014 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
June 3, 2014
STILLWATER — Kate Kujawa and Taylor Monaghan, both members of the Oklahoma State Track & Field and Cross Country programs, are among 20 student-athletes who have been selected to receive a 2013-14 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarships, the Big 12 Conference announced today.
Kujawa graduated in May with a double-major in both mechanical and aerospace engineering and will enroll in the MBA program (master of business administration) at Oklahoma State University in August. She was a seven-time Academic All-Big 12 selection, and was also named an All-Academic selection by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association in 2012. During her athletic career at OSU, she was an All-American in the outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase, was a Big 12 Champion in the indoor distance medley relay, was an All-Region selection in cross country, and compiled five All-Big 12 selections.
Monaghan graduated this past December with a degree in physiology and enrolled in the master's program at Oklahoma State University in health and human performance. He was a six-time Academic All-Big 12 selection and a four-time OSU Academic Achievement Award recipient. He was named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll on nine occasions, the Dean's Honor Roll twice and the President's Honor Roll once. Monaghan was a three-time All-Big 12 selection in two different events (outdoor 3,000-meter steeplechase and the indoor 1,000-meter run) and was an All-Region selection in cross country in the fall of 2013.
The scholarships are named in honor of the late Dr. Prentice Gautt, a former Big 12 Conference staff member and student services' pioneer who passed away in March of 2005. The list of all-time recipients has grown to 348 since the inception of the league in 1996-97. Starting in 2002-03, additional funding increased scholarship award winners to two per member institution.
To date, the Big 12 has provided over $2.3 million for postgraduate education. The individual grants began at $2,500 in 1996-97, were raised to $5,000 in 1999 and increased to $6,900 for 2004-05. The awards climbed to $7,500 in 2006-07 and moved to $9,000 in 2011-12.
Criteria for the awards includes a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, participation in at least two years of intercollegiate athletics at the nominee's respective institution and completion of athletics' eligibility. The student-athletes also must graduate from their respective member institutions within 15 months of their selection for a postgraduate scholarship and are expected to enroll in graduate/professional schools within two years of graduation. Three faculty representatives, one senior woman administrator and one director of athletics form the selection panel for the awards.
