May 31, 2013
Baylor's Nick Florence and Kathy Shelton were two of 20 Big 12 student-athletes selected to receive 2012-13 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarships, the Conference office announced.
Softball's Kathy Shelton (McKinney, Texas), a three-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team member was selected to the All-Big 12 squad in each of her last three seasons. A four-year starter for the Lady Bears, Shelton broke the program's single-season record for steals this year with 41 as well as grasping the all-time mark (121). In 2013, Shelton was named first-team all-region and was the Big 12 Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year, graduating with a degree in speech pathology.
Quarterback Nick Florence (Garland, Texas) finished his Baylor undergraduate degree in economics with a 3.79 GPA in only seven semesters. He is currently enrolled in graduate school, pursuing a master's in business administration.
In his senior season, Florence finished second in the nation with an average of 375.2 yards per game of total offense. He completed 286 of 464 passes for 4,309 yards and 33 touchdowns. His total for passing yards was a Baylor single-season passing yards record (4,309), surpassing Robert Griffin III (4,293 in 2011). Florence's 4,857 yards of total offense were the 6th-most by a Big 12 player in a single season. He finished his career with 6,932 yards of total offense, the 2nd-most in school history.
The scholarships are named in honor of the late Dr. Prentice Gautt, a former Big 12 Conference staff member and student services' pioneer who passed away in March 2005. The list of all-time recipients has grown to 313 since the inception of the league in 1996-97. Starting in 2002-03, additional funding increased scholarship award winners to two per member institution.
To date the Big 12 has provided near $2.2 million for postgraduate education. The individual grants began at $2,500 in 1996-97, were raised to $5,000 in 1999 and increased to $6,900 for 2004-05. The awards climbed to $7,500 in 2006-07 and moved to $9,000 in 2011-12.
Criteria for the awards includes a cumulative grade point average of 3.500 on a 4.000 scale, participation in at least two years of intercollegiate athletics at the nominee's respective institution and completion of athletics' eligibility. The student-athletes also must graduate from their respective member institutions within 15 months of their selection for a postgraduate scholarship and are expected to enroll in graduate/professional schools within two years of graduation. Three faculty representatives, one senior woman administrator and one director of athletics form the selection panel for the awards.
Previous BU Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship Winners
2012-13 - Nick Florence (FB), Kathy Shelton (SB)
2011-12 - Sydney Wilson (SB), Jon Rigenberg (BB)
2010-11 - Tiffany Wesley (SB), Logan Roberts (T&F/CC)
2009-10 - Gianna Quintana (SOC), Dominik Mueller (MTennis)
2008-09 - Lyndsy Bedell (CC/T&F), Zach Dillon (BB)
2007-08 - Kristen Schramek (VB), Tim Jackson (BB)
2006-07 - Chelsi Lake (SB), Irwin Price (CC)
2005-06 - Phil Tran (FB), Sara Hausner (SB)
2004-05 - Stephen Sepulveda (FB), Lori Viggiano (SOC)
2003-04 - John Martin (FB), Megan McCoin (CC/T&F)
2002-03 - Ross Bennett (BB), Whitney Barrett (SOC)
2001-02 - Tim Hartson (BB), Lanie Millar (CC/T&F)
2000-01 - Kerry O'Bric (T&F), Mark Williams (MTennis)
1997-98 - Douglas Maziur (T&F)
