Lindsey Kentner of Wapakoneta, Ohio, Wins NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship

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Lindsey Kentner on graduation day on the University of Charleston campus, with the West Virginia State Capitol in the background

CHARLESTON, WV (05/17/2011)(readMedia)-- Lindsey Kentner, a May graduate of the University of Charleston and 2010-11 captain of its women's basketball team, has been selected to receive a competitive post-graduate scholarship awarded by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Kentner, a native of Wapakoneta, Ohio, was one of only six women's basketball players and only 87 female student-athletes from all Division I, II and III schools in the nation to receive a $7,500 grant to be used toward completion of an advanced degree. Kentner completed her undergraduate degree in pre-med/biology in May and graduated summa cum laude with at 4.0 grade point average. She will use her NCAA scholarship at the Ohio State University College of Optometry this fall.

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA sports. The criteria include not only athletic and academic achievements, but also campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership.

On the academic side, Kentner was named the Outstanding Student in Science at the University of Charleston in April. She was a three-time West Virginia Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll selection, and a member of the Capital One Academic All-American First Team. She was also chosen for the Academic All-District First Team, and received the WVIAC Senior Scholar Athlete Award.

A four-year letter winner and 2010-11 team captain at the University of Charleston, Kentner also excelled on the basketball court. She holds the UC all-time career record for free-throw percentage, three-point shooting percentage and consecutive free throws made. She led the West Virginia Independent Athletic Conference (WVIAC) with 3.1 steals per game, while shooting 52.2 percent from the field and leading her team to the WVIAC regular season championship. Kentner is one of ten scorers in school history with more than 1,400 career points (her total is 1,576), placing her eighth on the all-time career scoring list. She earned All-WVIAC First Team honors twice, and was named the WVIAC Female Athlete of the Year for 2010-11.

School officials believe that Kentner is the only University of Charleston student-athlete ever to receive the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. According to Head Women's Basketball Coach Sherry Winn, "It is her determination and willingness to work that have led to her achievements. I have an enormous amount of confidence that whatever goal she sets, she will achieve."