CCU

Men's Tennis Dowis Awarded Inaugural Big South Conference Graduate Fellowships

       

Men's Tennis Dowis Awarded Inaugural Big South Conference Graduate Fellowships

(release provided by the Big South Conference)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Birmingham-Southern women’s cross country runner Rachel Bramlett (Scottsboro, Ala.) and Coastal Carolina men’s tennis player Brian Dowis (Yorktown, Va.) have been awarded the inaugural Big South Conference Graduate Fellowships provided by Renaissance Insurance, it was announced today by Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander. Renaissance Insurance, a Big South Corporate Partner, will award $2,000 each to Bramlett and Dowis for their respective graduate studies.  The Big South Conference Graduate Fellowship Program was established by the League in the fall of 2005 as a means of recognizing the academic excellence of Big South Conference student-athletes who intend to pursue post graduate studies upon graduation from a Big South Conference institution.  The Big South will formally present the fellowships as part of its Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday, May 19 in Hilton Head, S.C.

“I want to congratulate Ms. Bramlett and Mr. Dowis for their outstanding undergraduate careers and selection for this prestigious honor,” said Kallander.  “The entire Big South family is proud of their accomplishments and we wish them the best in their graduate studies.  We are also gratified by the support of Renaissance Insurance that made this dream of ours a reality.”   “Renaissance Agencies is very pleased to offer these post graduate scholarships to these very deserving recipients,” added Pete Ginnegar, Director of Sports Marketing for Renaissance.  “We at Renaissance believe that strong academic and athletic programs go hand-in-hand.”   Bramlett was a key member of the Birmingham-Southern women's cross country team for four years and served as team captain this past season.  She competed in all six events in 2005 and was one of the Panthers’ top five finishers in four of six meets, including a season-best time of 21:51 at the New Balance Big South Cross Country Championships.  During her four-year career, she ran a career-best 21:12 at the Rhoades Invitational.  She has been named to the Big South Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team, as well as the Big South Presidential Honor Roll twice in her career.    A 3.72 student in biological chemistry, Bramlett has been accepted to medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of South Alabama, with the goal of becoming a physician.  During her academic career, she participated in a pre-health internship at Carraway Hospital, phlebotomy training, was a teaching assistant for General Chemistry Laboratory, and was a member of the Mortar Board (senior Honor Society) and Alpha Epsilon Delta (pre-health honor society).  In addition, Bramlett was involved in Birmingham-Southern’s Students Offering Support program for two years and its Triangle Club as a sophomore, as well as serving on the institution’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for one year.  Bramlett also was a Dean’s List student and recipient of the Presidential Honor Scholarship while at Birmingham-Southern.   Dowis was a four-year starter for the Chanticleers as a singles and doubles player.  He served as co-captain in 2004-05, was a three-time Big South Men’s Tennis All-Academic Team selection and was the 2005 Big South Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  In addition, Dowis was named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District III Men’s At-Large squad as a first-team honoree, and has been honored as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete and All-Academic Team recipient twice in his career.  He also attended the first-ever Big South Leadership Conference in July, 2005, and served on Coastal’s SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) for three years.   A 3.93 student in accounting, Dowis will attend graduate school at Clemson and pursue a master’s in professional accountancy, with the goal of becoming a Certified Public Accountant.  During his academic career, he has volunteered as a tax preparer for elderly citizens and the local community, has participated in several fundraising efforts for local charities, among others, and has been a member of Beta Alpha Psi (Business Honor Society), the South Carolina Delta Chapter of the National Collegiate Athlete Honor Society and a ROTARACT Service Organization member.  Dowis also has been named a Time Warner Cable Dean’s Scholar-Athlete twice, has been named to the CCU’s President’s List three times (requires 4.0 GPA) and CCU’s Dean’s List four times.  He has received several scholarships as well, including the 2004-05 Scholarship for Military Children, four-year South Carolina Life Scholarship, four-year Coastal Scholars Award and the Armed Forces Communications-Electronics Scholarship.   Nominations for the Graduate Fellowship are made by the Faculty Athletics Representative or the Chief Academic Officer at a Big South member institution, and are limited to one male and one female at each school.  The additional finalists for the 2006 fellowship are listed below:   Nominee, school /  Sport / Major / GPA / Postgraduate Study Christine Doyle, Coastal Carolina / softball / Mathematics / 3.798 / Actuarial Science Jennifer Evans, High Point / soccer / Business Administration / 3.5692 / MBA Alex Krempa, Birmingham-Southern / golf / Religion / 3.933 / DMD Chad Mohn, UNC Asheville / basketball / Economics / 3.590 / Accountancy   To qualify for the Big South Conference Graduate Fellowship, candidates must have the following requirements:
  • An overall undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 3.500 or better based on a maximum 4.000, or the equivalent in other recognized grading systems;
  • Have competed in intercollegiate athletics as a member of a varsity team at a Big South Conference member institution;
  • Be a graduating senior or be enrolled in graduate study at a Big South Conference institution while completing the last year of eligibility;
  • Have applied for admission into a graduate degree program at a properly accredited, non-profit educational institution or into a post baccalaureate professional degree program at a professionally accredited law school, medical school or the equivalent, without restriction as to the national site of the institution;
  • Have evidenced superior character and leadership;
  • Have demonstrated that participation in athletics and community service has been a positive influence on the nominee’s personal and intellectual development.  Relative success in athletics is important but not of overriding significance;
  • Enroll in a graduate degree program the fall semester or term subsequent to being awarded the fellowship.