ASTON, Pa. – Neumann University senior Emilee Gruse of Lafayette, Indiana, is a 2010-11 Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics recipient.

Gruse was one of hundreds of applicants from around country that applied for the NCAA postgraduate scholarship. She stood out amongst the applicants and was honored with one of the twenty-six scholarships available for the upcoming academic year. She is the first recipient from Neumann to receive this honor.

Gruse, an Athletic Training and Strength and Conditioning major, was a member of the women's volleyball team for four seasons. During her time at Neumann, Gruse earned Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (PAC) Rookie of the Year honors and Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) first team All-Conference honors junior year. In her final season with the Knights Emilee notched her 1,000th career kill in a conference match-up against Centenary College. For these efforts, she was named all-conference honorable mention. Gruse finished her career with 1,054 kills, 282 digs, and 281 blocks.

The Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics is offered by the NCAA annually to 13 ethnic minorities and 13 female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies. The recipients must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sport administration or related program that will help them obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics. Scholarship winners have one year to use the one-time award of $6,000.

2010-11 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Honorees:

Ethnic Minority Awardees

Name                           Institution

Kendra Eaton                Western Carolina

Arlynda Flores               St. Mary's (Texas)

Orlando Gunn                LSU

Shayla Haynes              Howard

Terrance Jamison          Wisconsin

Shelby Johnson            Akron

Jaimel Johnson             Tennessee

Stephanie Militello         Eastern Illinois

Prince Moody               Wisconsin

Emily Thach                  Pittsburgh

Brandi Walker                Towson

Earnesia Williams          Texas

Amanda Wilson             Eastern Kentucky

Women's Awardees

Name                           Institution

Kelsey Bowers              Florida

Danitra Castro               Indiana

Molly Davis                   Southeast Missouri State

Rebecca Edwards         Florida State

Emilee Gruse               Neumann

Megan Hoffert               Texas Tech

Amy Howard                 Saginaw Valley State

Olivia Jarem                  Albany

Jessica McIntyre           Mobile

Biliana Mihaylova          Hartford

Allison Raguse              Northern Colorado

Madelyn Robinson        Akron

Megan Wilderotter         Samford

NCAA Release