MINUTES OF THE
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
WALTER BYERS SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Teleconference March 8, 2002
Participants:
Beth Chapman, Southland Conference
David Diles, Eastern Michigan University, chair
Myrtes Dunn Green, Stillman College
Richard Gropper, University of North Florida
Ronald Koperski, Bradley University
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 10 a.m. by the chair, Mr. Diles. 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) Kyle Eash, Illinois Wesleyan University;
(2) Ziga Ivanic, Norwich University; and
(3) David Scott, Lipscomb University.
b. The male alternate was John Hedengren, Brigham Young University.
c. The female finalists were:
(1) Ann Brooks, University of Missouri;
(2) Rebecca Stallwood, West Virginia University; and
(3) Claudia Veritas, Wellesley College.
d. The female alternate was Mily Kannarkat, Old Dominion University.
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).
8. Update of the Application Packet. The committee directed Mr. Bray to alter the application packet to include notification that if a Byers Scholar does not enroll in a graduate program within five years of being named a Byers Scholar then the scholarship will transfer to the alternate, should he or she still be enrolled in a graduate program. It was also determined that qualification number four should be amended to state that the candidate should have intentions of applying for admission into a graduate degree program instead of stating that the candidate must have already applied for admission into the graduate degree program. The committee also decided that the factual list of principal activities and honors while in college should be separated into individual lists each for athletic accomplishments, academic accomplishments and extracurricular interests, and community activities. Next, the committee decided to add a line each for the e-mail address and phone number of the faculty athletics representative or chief academics officer that signs the application. Finally, the committee decided that all application material must be typed in order for the application to be considered.
5. Web Site Accessibility for the Application. The committee directed Mr. Bray to make the application available on the NCAA Web site in a downloadable format instead of mailing hard copies to each member institution.
6. Recognition of Byers Scholars at the Annual NCAA Convention. Mr. Bray reviewed a proposal to move up the timing of the selection process for the Byers Scholars and recognize the Byers Scholars at the President’s media luncheon. The committee directed Mr. Bray and other NCAA staff to pursue the idea of recognizing the Byers Scholars during the President’s media luncheon without altering the timing of the selection process.
7. Inflationary Budget Request. Mr. Bray reviewed the current status of the committee’s inflationary budget request to increase the scholarship amount.
8. Agenda for the April 28-29 meeting. Mr. Bray reviewed the agenda for the April 28-29 meeting in which the committee will interview the six scholarship finalists.
9. Update on the 2001 Byers Scholars. Mr. Bray and Mr. Diles gave an update on Kim Black and Brad Henderson.
10. Voting Procedure. The committee decided how the voting would occur should Ms. Chapman not be able to attend the April meeting.
11. Future Meeting Date and Site. The committee reviewed its future meeting date and site.
a. April 28-29, 2002; Grand Hyatt Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia.
12. Adjournment. The telephone conference adjourned at 11:15 a.m.
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