July 7, 1997

NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame student-athletes Jen Renola andJeremy Siek have been award NCAA postgraduate scholarships for $5,000 atthe university or professional school of their choice. The NCAA hasawarded postgraduate scholarships to 107 student-athletes, 36 men and 71women, in sports other than football and basketball in which the NCAAconducts championships. The scholarships are awarded to student-athleteswho maintain at least a 3.000 cumulative grade-point average and performwith distinction in varsity competition.

Notre Dame has now had 31 student-athletes awarded NCAA post-graduatescholarships since the program began in 1964. Renola is the firstrecipient in the nine-year history of women’s soccer at Notre Dame. Siekis the fourth from men’s fencing to win the award and the first since PaulAngelo in 1975.

The NCAA postgraduate scholarship marks the second post-graduatescholarship Renola has received after she was selected as the BIG EASTscholar-athlete for the 1996-97 year. Renola led Notre Dame to the NCAAwomen’s soccer championship in 1995 where, as goalkeeper, she shut out allsix of Notre Dame’s post-season opponents on the way to the NCAA title. Renola was recognized as the National Soccer Coaches Association of Americaplayer of the year and was chosen as one of the NCAA Today’s Top VIII. Shewas named GTE/CoSIDA Fall/Winter At-Large Academic All-American of the Yearand was a first team Academic All-America selection. She graduated fromthe College of Arts and Letters with a degree in English with a 3.696 GPA.

Siek led Notre Dame’s fencing team to the NCAA combined championshipsas a freshman in 1994 and to runner-up finishes in 1996 and 1997. He was afour-time All-American with three top-10 finishes at the NCAA championship. Siek compiled 192 career wins, the most ever by a Notre Dame foilist andthe second-most ever by any Irish fencer. He was a two-time captain of thefoil squad and was a member of Notre Dame’s captain council. Siekgraduated from the College of Science with a degree in mathematics andcomputer applications with a 3.441 GPA. He will pursue graduated studiesat Notre Dame in the fall.