Postgraduate Scholars

Concordia is a leader among NCAA Division III colleges for the number of athletes who have won prestigious scholarships to graduate and professional schools following the completion of their playing days.

In 2004 alone, Concordia had three NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners, more than any other school in any of the NCAA’s five divisions – proof that Concordia student-athletes are well prepared to succeed following graduation.


NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients

2011 - Erika Swenson - Women's Soccer
Swenson had a 3.98 grade point average as a Healthcare Management  and Classical Studies double major. She was named an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American in 2009 and was a two-time Academic All-District First Team honoree.   

2009  - Levi DeVries - Football
Devries was a Physics and Mathematics double major who had a 3.97 grade point average. On the field he was a four-year starter. He was also inducted into the Sigma Pi Sigma honor society for Physics and received the Randy Kurt Bartholomaus Scholarship.

2008 - Melanie Hageman - Women's Basketball
Hageman carried a 3.79 grade point average and majored in Biology. She was a two-time All-Region player
finished her four years with 1,625 points and 690 rebounds. She was the 10th player in school history to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds.

2006 - Natalie Hanson - Women's Track and Field
Hanson had a 3.78 grade point average wile majoring in Environmental Studies and Biology. She was an Academic All-American and earned All-American honors at the NCAA Track and Field Meet by placing fourth in the 1500 meters and sixth in the 800 meters at the 2006 national meet.  

2006 - Angie Pfeiffer - Women's Track and Field
Pfeiffer had a 3.91 GPA while majoring in English Writing and Pre-Dentistry. She was also a finalist for the NCAA Woman of the Year award in 2006. Pfeiffer was a two-time Academic All-American and a six-time All-American. She broke 13 school records and competed in six NCAA National Championship Meets, including all four outdoor championship meets. She was named the USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year in the spring of 2006.  

2004 - Nick Myran - Men's Cross Country
Myran had a 3.78 grade point average with a double major in Mathematics and Economics. He was one of the most successful athletes to compete in cross-country in the history at Concordia. He participated in NCAA National Meet in 2004 and was a two-time All-Region honoree. Myron also qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Meet in 2004.

2004 - Jordan Talge - Football
Talge was an Economics and Political Science double major and had a 3.73 GPA. He was one of the most decorated players in the history of Concordia football. Talge was named to the D3football.com All-American First Team, the Football Gazette All-American First Team as well as the Associated Press Little All-American Second Team. On top of all the All-American awards, he was also a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, which honors the top player in NCAA Division III.  He became the first Concordia player in program history to be named as a finalist since the award started in 1993.   

2004 - Jessica Walden - Volleyball
Walden had a perfect 4.00 while majoring in Biology and Psychology. She was the school's all-time leader in assists in a career, assists in a single season and assists in a single match. She was named the MIAC Most Valuable Player in 2004 and was named to the MIAC All-Conference Team for the three straight years.


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 championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated. An equitable approach is employed in reviewing each applicant's nomination form to provide opportunity to all student-athlete nominees to receive the postgraduate award, regardless of sport, division, gender or race. In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study in an accredited graduate degree program.