University of California, Davis graduates receive Postgraduate Grant

Cherdack, Albin Win NCAA AWARD

Aggie standouts prepare for graduate school after outstanding UC Davis careers.

UC Davis student-athletes Laura Cherdack and Kelly Albin have each earned distinction by receiving prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, it was recently announced by the NCAA.

Both were among 116 award winners of the scholarships from winter and spring sports. Each scholarship is worth $7,500. According to the award's criteria, nominated student-athletes must have an overall grade-point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) and have performed with distinction in the sport they were nominated. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee selects the winners.

Cherdack also earned distinction as a cross country runner, twice earning All-CCAA honors including in 2002 when she was fourth at the conference championships. She went on to earn All-West Region honors in 2002 by placing 10th and was 46th at the national championships. Cherdack had a strong senior season this year, capping her career by finishing in 35th at the USATF Club Championships in December. She was the Aggies' top runner at the highly competitive meet

Cherdack, a senior from Sherman Oaks, Calif., earned distinction as a distance runner in both track and field and cross country. On the track, she finished seventh in the 10,000-meter run at the 2003 NCAA Division II Championships with a time of 36 minutes, 12.98 seconds, placing her No. 5 on the program's all-time leaders' list and earning her All-America accolades.