University of Minnesota Athletics
Shaughnessy Honored with Postgrad Scholarship
4/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming & Diving
University of Minnesota women’s swimmer Jenny Shaughnessy has been honored with a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Postgraduate Scholarship. Shaughnessy, who finished her Gopher career as an 11-time All-American this past March, will earn her bachelor’s degree next fall and will apply to medical school in the next school year.
The NCAA awarded educational grants to 58 student-athletes, and the winners (29 men and 29 women) represent winter-sports participants who will receive one-time, nonrenewable grants of $7,500. Shaughnessy and Gopher track & field student-athlete Heather Dorniden are two of 29 recipients across the nation. Entering her final semester, Shaughnessy holds a grade point average of 3.965. In order to receive the postgraduate scholarship, student-athletes must meet the criteria: in their final season of NCAA eligibility, have an undergraduate GPA of 3.20 or higher, have performed with great distinction as a member of a varsity sport (athletic achievement, academics and community service), continue academic work beyond baccalaureate degree and enroll in a graduate degree program on a part- or full-time basis and is an outstanding citizen and role model to athletics as a whole.
Shaughnessy, a Rochester, Minn., native, competed in her fourth consecutive NCAA Championships this past March. She was a first-team All-America honoree in the 800 free relay and earned honorable mention accolades in the 200 and 400 individual medleys and the 400 free relay. At the 2009 Big Ten Championships, she was named the swimmer of the meet after winning the 200 and 400 IM and the 400 and 800 free relays. During the course of her career, Shaughnessy was an eight-time Big Ten Champion (200 and 400 IM, 400 and 800 free relays) and was a First Team All-Big Ten award winner in all of her four years with the Maroon and Gold. One of the Gophers’ most versatile swimmers, Shaughnessy holds the school record in the 200 free (also a Big Ten record), 200 back, 200 IM, 400 IM along with the 400 and 800 free relays. She was a two-time team captain and was awarded the team’s most valuable swimmer and hardest worker twice and most improved as a freshman. Along with her athletic accomplishments, Shaughnessy was a top-five student-athlete, which is given to the athletes who have the best GPAs in the athletics department. She was also a CSCAA All-American and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
“I feel honored to receive the NCAA postgraduate scholarship,” Shaughnessy said. “I've been truly fortunate to have been presented with so many opportunities, both in the classroom and in the pool, over these past four years. The tremendous and continued support from Minnesota and the NCAA will allow me to continue to pursue my goals in the years to come.”
Players Mentioned
