College Tennis News - LSU's spencer receives NCAA postgraduate scholarship

BATON ROUGE – Former LSU women’s tennis player Staten Spencer has been awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA announced Wednesday.

Spencer, who competed in 2009 as a fifth-year senior, has already completed her first year of graduate school in Economics at LSU. After she earns her master’s degree Spencer plans to help build and strengthen the economies of African countries.

The scholarship is a one-time grant of $7,500 that is awarded to 29 men and 29 women for each sports season – fall, winter and spring.

“It is an honor to receive this scholarship, and I was really excited to hear about it,” Spencer said. “The scholarship will help me further my graduate studies in Economics and begin pursuing my goal of helping African countries develop their economies.”

Spencer battled nagging injuries throughout her career including a cracked vertebra in her back that forced her to redshirt in 2005-06. Before her injury she led the team with 27 wins her freshman season, and despite her injury she managed to rack up 67 career singles victories and 73 doubles wins.

“I am extremely happy for Staten and very proud of her for receiving this award,” LSU head coach Tony Minnis said. “You will not find a person more committed to anything she does than Staten, whether its academics, fitness or tennis. Staten gives extreme effort and is very deserving of this award.”

Throughout her career Spencer led the team by setting an academic standard of excellence as she was named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete all four years of her career, and she was also a four-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. She also earned the LSU Economic department’s award for Outstanding Economics Student in 2008 which is given to the student with the highest GPA in the major.

Spencer was also actively involved in the local community, working with LSU’s CHAMPS/Life Skills Program by visiting children in local hospitals as well as organizing the tennis team’s Halloween BOOzar event for children and collecting food and toys for LSU’s Thanksgiving Food Drive and Christmas Toy Drive, respectively.

As a testament to her hard work on and off the courts during her junior season, Spencer received the ITA Southwest Region Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award, which is given annually to a player who displays inspiring dedication and commitment to her team and has enhanced her team’s performance and exemplified the spirit of college tennis.

“Staten’s accomplishments are genuinely impressive and it’s very rewarding to see her recognized at the national level,” LSU Faculty Athletics Representative Dydia DeLyser said. “These scholarships are highly competitive because the NCAA awards only 87 per year for women from all three divisions and all the participating colleges and universities across the country.

“As a faculty member I’m always thrilled when promising and talented undergraduates like Staten decide to pursue post-graduate education. But in Staten’s case, it’s particularly rewarding because of her strong desire to use her education to help others. I’m really proud of all she’s accomplished at LSU, and I know that I and the rest of the LSU community will continue to be proud of Staten in the years to come.”

The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the NCAA’s most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated.