Emory University News Release

Release date: June 23, 2003
Contact: Deb Hammacher, Associate Director, University Media Relations,
at 404-727-0644 or dhammac@emory.edu

Division III Athletes Make Their Mark in Sports – and in the Classroom

College athletic programs have gotten somewhat of a black eye lately, but the approach of NCAA's Division III proves that it is indeed possible for students to compete in exciting, winning sports of the highest calibre while excelling at academics.

Emory University is a perfect example, where all seven of its spring teams and 14 of its 18 sports for the year went to their respective NCAA Division III championships while maintaining a 3.0 or better grade point average. Emory women's tennis team swept the championships by winning the team, singles and doubles competitions (the singles final was an all-Emory showdown between a senior and a freshman). The men's tennis team also clinched the team title at its national championships.

Emory is one of only seven schools in the nation--others include Stanford and Notre Dame--to place in the top 20 for academics and athletics, according to two respective rankings--18th in the latest U.S. News & World Report survey, and just finished second in the 2003 NACDA Directors' Cup standings for best all-around Division III athletics program--the fifth time in eight years of finishing in the top 10.

For the past two years, Emory has been first in the nation (Stanford is second) among all NCAA schools (Divisions I, II and III) for most NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners. The scholarships are presented to the best student-athletes who intend to pursue graduate school.

Division III athletes--who don't receive athletic scholarships or preferential treatment at their schools--compete at the highest level of athletics and academics. Men's tennis team captain Dylan Bird has been selected for Emory's most coveted awards, the Bobby Jones Scholarship for a year of postgraduate study at Emory's sister school, the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Softball team captain Melissa Roberts also is a Bobby Jones Scholar and, at commencement in May, she was awarded the university's highest student honor, the Brittain Award, for service to the university.