Dec. 22, 2009
Center Valley, Pa. - The Patriot League and USNI Sport announced a partnership on Sunday that will facilitate an opportunity for Patriot League student-athletes to secure a Graduate Development International Scholarship.
The partnership will enable graduates from Patriot League institutions to apply for graduate school sport scholarships in a University in the United Kingdom. The scholarship will provide opportunities for successful recipients to continue both their academic and athletic development at a high level while also adding to their overall personal and professional development through engagement in sports leadership and internship programs.
This innovative approach integrating academic and sporting excellence with ambassadorial and sports leadership duties will greatly enhance their academic profile, professional and practical skills while facilitating opportunities for graduates to continue their involvement in sport.
"We are delighted to team up with the prestigious Patriot League in order to help achieve the goal of making `today's scholar-athletes into tomorrow's leaders'. We believe that this partnership will be of great benefit to the scholars as well as corporate and sporting USA," said USNI's Mark Marais.
Two former Patriot League student-athletes have participated in the program. Matt Betley, the 2008 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, played for Ulster University's basketball team after graduating from Lafayette College. He earned his Masters' degree in business and sports management (2009) from Ulster. Meanwhile, Lafayette alum Paul Cummins, who grew up in Ireland, is a current member of the post-graduate program at Ulster.
The Patriot League continually demonstrates that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing its high standards. The Patriot League's athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.
USNI Sport offer American companies, academic and sporting organisations and individuals a unique opportunity to get involved in a Graduate Development International Scholarship package.
They assist in getting the very best students a scholarship package to study at masters' level in Northern Ireland universities. Companies and individuals are invited to invest in these scholarships. These graduates will be the future leaders of companies throughout the United States and will have experienced the 'new and true' Northern Ireland as a safe, open and untapped resource. The USNI Sport foundation is a not-for-profit organization.