Jessica Tsao

by A_Fan Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:18 pm

Jessica Tsao Granted NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

PORTLAND, Ore. --- University of Portland women’s soccer standout Jessica Tsao is one of 29 female student-athletes to be granted a NCAA fall sports postgraduate scholarship. A total of 29 male and 29 female fall sports student-athletes were recognized and each will receive $7,500 in scholarship funds. Similar awards were given to winter and spring student-athletes, totaling 174 individual winners.

Tsao was a four-year starting defender for the Pilots and helped Portland to a remarkable 78-9-2 overall record and four NCAA tournament appearances. A native of Portland, Tsao has garnered two CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors and three West Coast Conference All-Academic Team awards. On the field, she was a three-time All-WCC honoree and was named the league’s defensive player of the year as a senior.

To qualify for NCAA postgraduate scholarships, student-athletes must excel academically and athletically, be in their final year of eligibility and plan to pursue graduate study. Student-athletes must also maintain at least a 3.2 grade-point average and be nominated by their institution’s faculty athletics representative.

Created in 1964, NCAA postgraduate scholarships promote and encourage education by rewarding the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes. Additional information is available on the NCAA website.

by Geezaldinho Fri Apr 15, 2011 1:48 pm

Jess keeps racking "em up.
Byers scholarship finalist, Rhodes scholarship finalist, going to Cambridge, just wow.

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland Pilots women’s soccer senior defender Jessica Tsao has been named one of six finalists for the Byers Scholarship, announced by the NCAA. A male and a female recipient for the $24,000 renewable scholarship will be selected later this month.

The Byers Scholarships were established in 1988 and recognize the contributions of former NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Recipients must have a 3.5 grade-point average, demonstrate evidence of superior character and leadership, and show that participation in athletics has been a positive influence on their personal and intellectual development.

Tsao just concluded a much-decorated four-year career on The Bluff. A Rhodes Scholarship Finalist, Tsao was a first-team ESPN Academic All-American last fall and is an Alpha Lambda Delta honors society member. Other honors for the Portland native include being a Lowe’s Senior Class Award finalist, the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-WCC selection.

Tsao is a member of the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Soccer Team, and she was accepted into the graduate program at Cambridge University, where she will be pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical neuroscience.

2011 Byers Scholarship Finalists
David Gatz, Ohio Wesleyan, swimming and diving
Darius Law, Charlotte, track and field
Daniel Mazzaferro, Auburn, swimming and diving
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific, track and cross country
Jessica Tsao, Portland, soccer
Kelsey Ward, Drury, swimming and diving

by A_Fan Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:32 pm

That's a lot of talent in one package!

Jessica Tsao

Jessica Tsao

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