Bueker, Elahi Earn Big 12 Graduate Scholarships

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State football player Brett Bueker and 400-meter hurdler Kianna Elahi are two of 20 Big 12 student-athletes that have been selected to receive 2011-12 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarships, the Conference office has announced.

Bueker, a senior quarterback who was named a co-captain by his teammates for the 2012 season, is a first-team academic All-Big 12 selection majoring in kinesiology. He played in every game last season. Elahi is an academic All-American who is majoring in chemical engineering. She is a 2012 All-American in the 400-meter hurdles.

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 293 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 over $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.