Finn, Ransford Named U-M's 2018 Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
5/10/2018 2:00:00 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
ROSEMONT, Ill. -- The Big Ten Conference Office announced on Thursday (May 10) that University of Michigan senior student-athletes Erin Finn (women's track and field, women's cross country) and PJ Ransford (men's swimming and diving) have been awarded 2018 Big Ten postgraduate scholarships. Finn and Ransford were Michigan's 2017-18 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients.
Two students competing in intercollegiate athletics from each of the 14 Big Ten institutions who plan to continue their education at a graduate degree program were each awarded a $7,500 scholarship, based on primarily academic achievements.
Erin Finn (West Bloomfield, Michigan)
Finn, who is pursuing her master's degree in public health, is as decorated in the classroom as she is on the track. She was named the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for track and field and cross country in 2017, marking her second Academic All-America honor in as many seasons. Seven times over the course of her career the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has recognized her with All-Academic honors, and she has been an annual fixture on the Big Ten All-Academic and Distinguished Scholar lists.
Her exploits on the track are nearly unrivaled in Michigan history, having claimed nine individual (non-relay) Big Ten titles between track and cross country and nine individual All-America honors, including four national runner-up finishes. Finn owns the school records in the indoor 3,000 meters, the indoor and outdoor 5,000 meters, and the outdoor 10,000 meters. No other woman in collegiate history has run 15:30 or faster in consecutive NCAA Indoor Championships 5,000-meter finals, a feat she accomplished in 2016 and 2017.
Finn has been recognized beyond the NCAA level for her achievements both in the classroom and on the field of competition. As an undergraduate, she was chosen for the 2017 American Institute of Chemists award from among all biochemistry students at Michigan. In recognition of her unique blend of athletic and academic prowess, she was chosen as Michigan's first female finalist for the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) prestigious James E. Sullivan Award.
PJ Ransford (Pittsford, New York)
A team captain in 2017-18, Ransford graduated in December with a degree in mechanical engineering and is currently enrolled in the College of Engineering pursuing a master's degree in the same field. He has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and received the NCAA Elite 90 Award at March's NCAA Championships for the second straight year. The Elite 90 Award is given to the student-athlete at the NCAA Championships with the highest GPA. He is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American.
In the pool, Ransford is a three-time All-American and has three honorable mention All-America citations. A three-time All-Big Ten selection, he was the 2016 Big Ten champion in the 1,650 freestyle and won bronze medals in the 500-yard freestyle and 1,650-yard freestyle at the 2018 Big Ten Championships. He is currently a member of the U.S. National Team and represented USA Swimming at the 2017 World University Games in Taiwan.
Each Big Ten institution developed its own on-campus selection process when awarding the scholarship. Students must have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point-average, demonstrated leadership qualities, served as an excellent role model and intended to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree at a graduate degree program. The scholarship will be used to pay expenses of the student's postgraduate education to include such related activities as research and teaching, as well as other expenses such as tuition, fees, room and board, required course-related supplies and books. In order to retain the scholarship, the recipient must be accepted into a full-time graduate degree program within three years from the fall semester after selection.
Players Mentioned
