April 29, 2009
TEMPE - Sarah Stevens, a member of the Arizona State University track and field program, has been selected as one of 58 student-athletes nationally to earn an educational grant through the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program, the national organization announced today. The NCAA awarded scholarships of $7,500 to 29 men and 29 women that completed their senior seasons in winter sports recently.
The scholarship, which was created in 1964, is a one-time, nonrenewable grant and is awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically throughout their careers and who also are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually across all of its divisions (87 for men and 87 for women). Stevens was one of 10 women's indoor track & field student-athletes to earn the honor and was the only woman from a Pac-10 institution to receive the honor.
In her career, Stevens has excelled for the Sun Devils as she has captured two individual national titles (2007 indoor shot put and 2008 outdoor discus) while accumulating 12 All-America honors, the most of any Sun Devil in program history. Stevens' success has also led to the women's team capturing three national titles and three Pac-10 Championships in her time in Tempe. Last year, as a junior, Stevens competed in five throwing events at the NCAA meets and earned four All-America honors, the most for one athlete in a single season in program history.
Away from the throwing circle, Stevens has been one of the top academic achievers in the nation as well. A May 2008 graduate with honors from ASU (B.S. Kinesiology), Stevens earned numerous academic awards, including twice being named the United States Track and Field, Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The USTFCCCA's 2007 Women's Division I Indoor and 2008 Women's Division I Outdoor recipient, she also was selected as a 2008 ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-American after earning her second district honor. A three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic selection, Stevens also was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) All-Academic teams three times each.
Stevens and her teammates will face Arizona and Northern Arizona in the annual Double Dual this Saturday in Tempe inside Sun Angel Stadium.