Iowa State University Athletics
Ellis, Gannon Named Dr. Prentice Gautt Scholars
06.07.2022 | Athletics, Academic Services
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State swimming and diving's Anna Ellis and track and field's Jonathan Gannon were honored for their academic accomplishments by earning the Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship. Ellis and Gannon are one of just 20 Big 12 student-athletes who were honored and will receive $10,000 toward post-graduate education.
Ellis, who graduated in May from Iowa State with a degree in biology, recently completed her fourth season with the swimming and diving team. The Sartell, Minn. native posted a series of season-best times in the final meet of her career at the Big 12 Championship with a 50 free time of 25.76, 100 back time of 57.94 and 200 back time of 2:02.35. Ellis moved on to 200 back finals at the conference championship meet, finishing 20th and becoming the No. 17 performer in Iowa State history with her PR time. She is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team member.
Gannon, who graduated in May with a degree in civil engineering, finished eighth in the discus (166-11, 50.89m) and recorded a personal best 182-0 (55.48m) to finish 10th in the hammer throw at the 2022 Big 12 Outdoor Championships. The Iowa City, Iowa native also set personal bests en route to finishing ninth in the weight throw (61-1 1/4, 18.62m) and 14th in the shot put (53-6 1/2, 16.32m) at the 2022 Big 12 Indoor Championships. Gannon is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team member as well.
The scholarships are named in honor of the late Dr. Prentice Gautt, a former Big 12 Conference staff member and student services' pioneer who passed away in March 2005. The list of all-time recipients has grown to 481 since the inception of the league in 1996-97. Starting in 2002-03, additional funding increased scholarship award winners to two per member institution.
To date the Big 12 has provided over $3.7 million for postgraduate education. The individual grants began at $2,500 in 1996-97, were raised to $5,000 in 1999 and increased to $6,900 for 2004-05. The awards climbed to $7,500 in 2006-07, moved to $9,000 in 2011-12 and have been at $10,000 since 2013-14.
Criteria for the awards includes a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.200 on a 4.000 scale and participation in at least two years of intercollegiate athletics at the nominee's respective institution. The student-athletes must graduate from their respective member institutions and enroll in graduate or professional school of their choice within 15 months of their selection of the postgraduate scholarship.
