HAVERFORD, Pa. - Senior Christopher Stadler added to the Haverford College athletic department's long tradition of student-athletes excelling both academically and athletically when the member of the cross country and track teams was awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship this month.
Stadler's achievement makes it six straight years a Haverford student-athlete has merited the distinguished honor. Twenty-six Haverford student-athletes overall have been named NCAA postgraduate scholars including 11 from the cross country and track programs.
The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 each for men and women. Recognizing student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics, the scholarships are awardeded for fall sports, winter sports and spring sports. There are 29 scholarships (one-time grants of $7,500) available for both men and women each sports season (fall, winter, spring). Stadler's award recognizes his accomplishments during the 2013-14 indoor track season.
A stellar senior indoor campaign saw Stadler claim the Centennial Conference crowns in the 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter with championship meet record times of 8 minutes, 33.12 seconds and 14:54.94, respectively. Stadler continued to shine on the national stage as he earned All-America honors in both the 3,000 and distance medley relay. The native of Belmont, Mass. helped the Fords' distance medley relay quartet place second at the national indoor championships before placing fifth in the 3,000. Over the course of the season, Stadler owned top-10 national times in three events -- distance medley relay, 3,000m and 5,000m.
Stadler, who was named the Mideast Region track athlete of the year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for each of the last two indoor seasons, was also this year's winner of the Varsity Cup which recognizes the oustanding athlete of Haverford's senior class.
A 10-time Centennial champion and six-time All-American in his career, Stadler will have the opportunity to add to his resume when he competes in the 5,000m and 10,000m races at the national outdoor meet taking place May 22-24.
Stadler, who captured the national indoor title in the 5,000m as a junior, has also thrived in the classroom as the sociology major was voted the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer for cross country in 2012 and 2013. A three-time member of the academic all-area squads, Stadler has been named to the conference's academic honor roll a combined nine times over his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated. An equitable approach is employed in reviewing each applicant's nomination form to provide opportunity to all student-athlete nominees to receive the postgraduate award, regardless of sport, division, gender or race. In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study in an accredited graduate degree program.