Courtesy: Missouri State Athletics
SPRINGFIELD – Former MSU swimming and diving standout Sydney Zupan has been named a recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program and will receive a $10,000 scholarship to be applied toward the graduate degree program of her choice.
“It is an incredible honor to have been selected as a scholarship recipient,” Zupan said “I am excited because, with this award, I’m now even better equipped to reach my professional goals. I’m grateful to the NCAA for helping and encouraging athletes to pursue postgraduate education even though their athletic careers have ended.”
She is the first Missouri State swimmer to garner the scholarship and is the first MSU athlete since volleyball’s Lily Johnson was a recipient in 2018.
Zupan was a standout in the water for MSU from 2014-2018. She won 11 gold medals and five silver medals at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships throughout her storied career. As a result of her efforts at the MVC Championships, Zupan was a four-time first-team All-MVC selection and was named MVC Swimmer of the Year as a senior in 2018. She still holds school records in the 100 and 200 backstrokes.
In the classroom, Zupan was just as impressive, having been a three-time MVC Scholar-Athlete First-Team honoree and a CSCAA Scholar All-American in 2017. As a senior in 2018, she won the MVC Elite 17 award and was named Missouri State Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
“During my time as a student-athlete at Missouri State, I was inspired to achieve and reach my academic and athletic goals and supported every step of the way,” Zupan reflected. “Because of a strong, steady support system of coaches, mentors, and teammates, and a desire to be prepared at the highest level to care for patients, I was motivated to continue my education and pursue an advanced degree. I’d especially like to thank the cornerstones of my MSU support system – my coaches Dave Collins and Chelsea Dirks-Ham, academic advisor Dr. Rich Garrad, and Assistant Honors College Director Mr. Scott Handley. These individuals not only supported me during my time as a student-athlete at MSU but have continued to do so throughout my current academic endeavors at Saint Louis University.”
Zupan is currently enrolled in Saint Louis University’s 21 Month Accelerated Master of Science Nursing Program and is expected to graduate this May. After obtaining her master’s degree, she plans to also complete a nursing doctoral program before finding work as a nurse practitioner.
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 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. In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through graduate study. Awardees are chosen by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, which includes faculty representatives, athletics administrators and a conference commissioner.
For all the latest information on the Missouri State swimming and diving team, visit missouristatebears.com or follow @MoStateSwim on Twitter.