MINUTES OF THE
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
WALTER BYERS SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Teleconference March 14, 2003
Participants:
Beth Chapman, Southland Conference, chair
Robert Frank, Oregon State University
Richard Gropper, University of North Florida
Karen Johnson, Alfred University
Robert Thomas, University of Missouri, Kansas City
Corey Bray, NCAA, recording secretary
[Note: These minutes contain only actions taken (formal votes or stated "sense of the meeting") in accordance with NCAA policy regarding minutes of all Association entities. While certain items on the committee?s agenda were acted on at various times throughout the meeting, all final actions within a given topic are combined in these minutes for convenience of reference.]
The meeting was called to order at 11 a.m. by the chair, Ms. Chapman. All members were present as noted above.
1. Opening Remarks. Those in attendance introduced themselves and then Mr. Bray reviewed the purpose of the telephone conference and the process for selecting the finalists.
2. Selection of Finalists. The candidates were narrowed to three finalists and one alternate each for the men and women.
a. The male finalists were:
(1) Matthew Emmons, University of Alaska Fairbanks;
(2) David Lofthus, John Hopkins University; and
(3) McLain Schneider, University of North Dakota.
b. The male alternate was Matthew Spector, Quincy University.
c. The female finalists were:
(1) Natalie Halbach, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill;
(2) Poppy Major, University of California, Davis; and
(3) Britt Themann, Tulane University.
d. The female alternate was Theresa Kulikowski, University of Utah.
3. Interview Questions. The committee members determined the topic areas for the interview questions and who would ask the question for each topic. The same committee member will ask the same question of each candidate. The interview question topics are:
a. Community service;
b. Academics;
c. Vision for the future;
d. Athletics; and
e. Distinguishing characteristic(s) that lead to overcoming an obstacle.
4. Update the Application Packet. Mr. Bray and the committee suggested the following changes to the application for the 2003-04 academic year:
a. Include a statement requesting that the application material be submitted in the following order:
(1) Application form;
(2) Essay;
(3) Letters of recommendation; and
(4) Transcript(s).
b. Include a statement indicating that there is not a limit to the number of qualified candidates an institution can nominate.
c. Include a reference to community service in qualification number 7.
d. Request that the number of hours per week and the number of years of involvement be included on the community service list of activities.
e. Include the application post-mark date to the checklist section in a prominent fashion.
f. Delete the numbering of the items in the checklist section.
g. Utilize Adobe Acrobat program to give candidates the ability to fill out the application on the NCAA Web site and then print it out, thus eliminating the necessity of typing the application with a typewriter.
5. Recognition of Byers Scholars at the Annual NCAA Convention. Mr. Bray gave a brief update on the efforts to add an NCAA scholarship recipient recognition event to the Annual NCAA Convention. The committee also suggested that the Byers Scholars be recognized during the Presidents State of the Association speech and that a corporate sponsor be considered to fund the scholarship recipient recognition event.
6. Agenda for the April 27-28 meeting. Mr. Bray reviewed the agenda for the April 27-28 meeting in which the committee will interview the six scholarship finalists.
7. Update on the 2002 Byers Scholars. Mr. Bray gave an update on Claudia Veritas and Kyle Eash's current activities.
8. Future Meeting Date and Site. The committee reviewed its future meeting date and site.
a. April 27-28, 2003; Hilton Key West, Key West, Florida.
12. Adjournment. The telephone conference adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
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