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Providence College Athletics
Gladys Ganiel To Receive NCAA Walter Byers Scholarship
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- It was announced on March 26 that Providence College senior Gladys Ganiel (Harrington, Maine) was named a recipient of the NCAA's Walter Byers Scholarship. Ganiel, a star on the PC cross country and track teams, along with Calvin Thigpen of the University of Mississippi each will receive a $12,500 scholarship from the NCAA.
Ganiel, a political science major, has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.986 in her four years at Providence. Since her sophomore year, she has been named to the GTE District I Academic All-America team every semester she has been eligible (five times) and has earned GTE Academic All-America National honors as many times. She also has earned three BIG EAST Academic All-Star accolades.
In the first semester of her freshman year (1995), Ganiel helped the PC women's cross country team capture the NCAA Cross Country Championship, which was the first NCAA team title ever at Providence and the first women's NCAA team title in Rhode Island.
The PC women's cross country team has been ranked in the top-25 consistently the last four years and Ganiel has been a major part of the success. Over the last three years she has helped the team maintain its national dominance as the squad placed seventh (1996), sixth (1997) and 14th (1998). On a conference level, Ganiel has helped the Friar cross country squad win three BIG EAST titles (1995, 1996 and 1997) and three New England crowns (1996, 1997 and 1998). In track, Ganiel has shown continual improvement through the years. Last June, she finished 13th in 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track Championship. Also last spring, Ganiel captured the 3,000 meter title at the ECAC Outdoor Track Championship.
Ganiel is a writer for the school newspaper, a research assistant in the Political Science Department and is heavily involved in volunteerism with her church. She is a member of the Ocean State Baptist Church in Smithfield, R.I. and volunteers with the youth, in nursery duty, working on the cleaning crew and as a member of the missionary support group. Ganiel also is a member of the Irish Cultural Association, which requires her to spend time giving lectures on Irish politics, history and literature.
In addition to the earning the Byers Scholarship this year, Ganiel also was named a Rhode Island finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship and earned the BIG EAST Scholar Athlete Award given to the top graduating female athlete in the Conference. Ganiel also will receive the Helen Bert Award as the top graduating female athlete at Providence College.
Ganiel, who plans to attend Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, to pursue a doctorate in political science, is the first Providence College student-athlete to earn a Walter Byers Scholarship.
The Byers scholarships were established in 1988 to recognize the contributions of the former NCAA executive director by encouraging excellence in academic performance by student-athletes. The $12,500 postgraduate scholarships are awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete. Award recipients are required to have at least a 3.500 grade-point average, show evidence of superior character and leadership and demonstrate that participation in athletics has been a positive influence on personal and intellectual development, among other qualifications.
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