Women's Cross Country
Denison's Binkley and Young Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships
Date: March 12, 2007
Location: Granville
The NCAA has announced that Denison University seniors Elaine Binkley (Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) and Anne Young (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington-Kilbourne) have been awarded prestigious postgraduate scholarships for the fall of 2006. The monetary scholarship of $7,500, awarded annually to college senior scholar-athletes, can be used at any graduate-level educational program of each awardees' choice.
Binkley, who hails from Columbus, Ohio, is a two-time All-American and a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America award winner who has helped the Denison cross country and track and field squads to six North Coast Athletic Conference championships during her time in Granville. As a freshman in 2003, Binkley placed 22nd at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships and followed in 2004 with a 28th place finish out of a field of 215 competitors. A four-time conference champion in indoor and outdoor track and field, Binkley holds the Denison outdoor school record for the 10,000 meters in 37:15.83.
A 4.0 student and member of Denison's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, Binkley is a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership honorary). She was presented the Margaret Ann Watkin Award as a junior for service, academic excellence, and research to the Denison biology department. She plans on attending Ohio State University medical school to pursue a career in endocrinology with an emphasis on examining the causes and potential treatments of disorders such as diabetes at the molecular level.
A native of Worthington, Ohio, Anne Young is a four-year starter and team captain for Denison's highly successful women's soccer program. She guided the Big Red to a pair of North Coast Athletic Conference Championships (2003 & 2005) and three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Young spent the first two year's of her career as the team's starting forward, handling the majority of the scoring duties. As a junior she moved into the central midfield where her impeccable leadership skills and knack for controlling the pace of a contest could really flourish. During Young's junior and senior seasons the team advanced to the NCAA Tournament Sectional finals (round of 8) and the sectional semifinals (round of 16).
She appeared in 76 games during her career with the Big Red and scored 31 goals and 13 assists. She was the 2003 NCAC Newcomer of the Year and was a four-year first-team all-conference performer. She is a four-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Great Lakes Region first team award winner and is a four-time Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association first-team All-Ohio pick. Young led Denison to 58 victories in her four-years and an impressive .721 winning percentage.
A mathematics major, Young plans on attending Ohio State University to earn a Master of Education degree in middle childhood education. After taking several education courses at Denison, the classroom seems to be a natural fit for Young and she plans on seeking out a middle school teaching opportunities following graduation in May.
In addition to her countless athletic achievements, Young has volunteered her time as a tutor, has participated in Denison's Relay for Life to raise money for cancer research and has served as an office worker for the women's soccer team at Denison.
Binkley and Young's scholarships bring the University's total number of Postgraduate Scholars to 42, placing Denison third among more than 400 NCAA Division III institutions. Emory (Ga.) University leads the division with 54 Postgraduate Scholars and Kenyon College is second with 50. Following Denison with 35 is Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Johns Hopkins University (Md.) with 33.
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program was created in 1964 to honor outstanding student-athletes from NCAA member institutions. The NCAA awards scholarships of $7,500 each year to student-athletes who have excelled academically and athletically and are in their final season of intercollegiate varsity athletic competition. The student-athlete must carry a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, be a distinct member of a varsity team, intend to enroll in a graduate degree program and be an outstanding citizen.
PICTURED: Elaine Binkley (left), Anne Young (right).