March 14, 2007

Ben Potts Receives NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship

CHICAGO -- The NCAA announced today that University of Chicago senior football player Ben Potts (Valparaiso, Ind./ Valparaiso) has been awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Potts was one of 29 male fall sport student-athletes from all three NCAA Divisions to receive a postgraduate scholarship of $7,500.

A three-year starter at left tackle, Potts was a three-time All-University Athletic Association selection, three-time UAA All-Academic Recognition Award recipient, and two-time ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Five honoree during his career.

Earlier this month, Potts received the Collegiate Award from the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, Central Indiana Chapter. The Collegiate Award is presented annually to one college senior who received a Scholar-Athlete Award as a senior in high school (the NFF annually honors 10-14 Indiana high school seniors) and who has continued to excel in athletics, academics, and service at the collegiate level.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated.

The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution, and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.