The NCAA has selected Alexa Duling for the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete for their academic achievements and potential for future success.
Alexa Duling, a member of South Dakota’s student-athlete advisory committee, competed in indoor and outdoor track and field and qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 400 meter hurdles. She placed 12th in the hurdles at the NCAA championships and was an Academic All-American in 2012.
Duling, a University of South Dakota track and field athlete admitted into the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix, is one of two recipients of the renewable $24,000 postgraduate scholarship. She is one of the 80 students who are members of the seventh class to enter the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix, arriving in July.
Duling completed her fifth year at South Dakota after majoring in biology with a minor in economics and is finishing her MBA, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average.
Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship recipients must be a graduating senior or enrolled in graduate study at an NCAA member institution. Students also must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.5 and they must have competed on a varsity team at an NCAA member school, superior character and leadership and demonstrated that participation in athletics and community service positively influenced the recipient’s personal and intellectual development.
Duling said she selected Arizona for the UA program and the proximity to American Indian populations, as she is interested in working with such populations in the southwestern region of the U.S.
“Medical school is often described as being the most difficult and stressful learning that an individual can undertake,” Duling said. “It takes extreme time management and personal dedication to fully learn and comprehend all of the curriculum as well as the art and expertise of diagnosis and patient care. Because of my sport, I believe I am well prepared to take on this challenge.”
More about Duling:
- A 400-meter hurdler, Duling competed last week in Austin, Texas, at the West preliminary round of the NCAA track and field championships.
- She is also a volunteer coach for “Girls on the Run,” a hospice volunteer and lector at her local church.
- She participates in various service activities through her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta.
- About her career thus far as a runner, Duling said: "Not only have I been able to accomplish many of my goals on the track, but also have learned that the qualities rooted in my sport – discipline, preparation, confidence and teamwork – are extremely important in everyday life. These qualities carry over to becoming a successful medical student and physician.”
Contact: Al Bravo, associate director of public affairs for the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix, at 602-827-2022.
