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Navy's Eric Gardiner Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.
-- Navy senior water polo player Eric Gardiner (Sr.,
Upland, Calif./Damien) is one of 58 student-athletes
nationally and just one of two collegiate male water polo players
to be awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, the NCAA announced
recently. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who
excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year
of intercollegiate athletics competition. The Association awards up
to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually, 87 for men and 87 for
women.
"It is an honor to represent both Navy Water Polo and the Naval
Academy in being named a recipient for a scholarship like this,"
said Gardiner. "Every student-athlete works very hard, trying to
balance school and athletics, especially when they are traveling
and in season. I was lucky enough to have a team and coaches that
supported my academic endeavors as well as my athletic ones. I am
very appreciative of that."
Gardiner, a utility player, appeared in 31 games with eight starts
for the Midshipmen this past fall. He finished the season with 19
points (10 g, 9 a) and ended his career with 41 points (27 g, 14
a). However, it is his contributions out of the pool that are
perhaps most impressive.
He owns a 4.00 cumulative GPA in comparative politics and has
received an "A" in every course he has taken, while being on the
Superintendent's and Commandant's List each semester while at Navy.
Following the fall semester, he ranked first in the senior class on
the Academic Order of Merit and fourth on the Military Order of
Merit. He received a prestigious Marshall Scholarship for graduate
study in the United Kingdom for two years. Starting in September,
he will be studying at Queen's University in Belfast, pursuing a
Master of Arts Degree in Terrorism, Violence and Security.
Following a year at Queen's, Gardiner plans to study a second year
at either Cambridge or Oxford, pursuing a degree in international
relations. Gardiner received a Special Warfare (SEALs) service
selection, and after his graduate education in the United Kingdom,
will head to Coronado, Calif., to go through BUD/S (Basic
Underwater Demolition School) training.
"Eric is perhaps the best student the water polo program has ever
produced here at Navy, and probably one of the top two or three
students here right now," said Navy head coach Mike Schofield. "We
are extremely proud of what he has accomplished and looking forward
to what he will accomplish in the future."
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. For more information
about the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, go to the Diversity and
Inclusion link under the About the NCAA tab at www.ncaa.org.
