Oakland's Lipari and Youngstown State's Hornberger Receive Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award

INDIANAPOLIS -- Oakland’s Miche’le Lipari and Youngstown State’s Liz Hornberger are recipients of the inaugural Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award, as voted on by the League’s Faculty Athletics Representatives Committee.

“What an honor it is to recognize Liz and Miche’le as the Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award winners,” said Commissioner Jon LeCrone. “These exemplary student-athletes embody the collegiate model, a foundation of the Horizon League. We wish them the best as they pursue their graduate degrees.”

In its first year of inception, the Horizon League will annually provide a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship apiece to a male and a female student-athlete from a Horizon League member institution to be used for graduate school expenses following completion of their undergraduate program.

While majoring in health sciences/pre-professional and pre-pharmacy, Lipari holds a 3.77 grade point average at Oakland. He plans to attend Wayne State University in pursuit of a Master’s degree in Pharmacy to follow his passion for science.

“It is an honor to be nominated and selected by the Horizon League for the post-graduate scholarship,” said Lipari. “It is an amazing feeling to have all my hard work on and off the field recognized and rewarded. The award will help tremendously and allow my mother some peace of mind when I attend grad school. A hundred ‘thank you’s’ wouldn’t be enough for how grateful I am.”

Lipari was a pivotal member of the men’s soccer team, ranking second on the team in points in 2013.

“This is a very deserving honor for Miche’le to receive and I know he is beyond thankful to the Horizon League for the opportunity that this post-graduate scholarship will provide him and his family in his pursuit of a Master’s degree in Pharmacy,” said Oakland head men’s soccer coach Eric Pogue.

“Miche’le has been a model student-athlete at Oakland over the past four years and excelled, not only on the soccer field, but also academically, and in the community throughout his time at Oakland.  This is a great reward for Miche’le to end his career at Oakland with and I know he will do great things.  Thank you very much to the Horizon League and the committee for selecting such an outstanding student-athlete in Miche’le Lipari for this scholarship.”

Hornberger held a 3.97 grade point average at Youngstown State while majoring in criminal justice. She will attend Case Western Reserve University to follow her passion for human rights law while pursuing a Juris Doctor.

“I wish I could express my appreciation better than a simple ‘thank you’,” said Hornberger. “I am so thankful not only for this scholarship, but also for the wonderful opportunities the Horizon League has given me these past four years. This award is being given to me, but my achievements are the direct results of constant support from Youngstown State University and the wonderful professors, coaches, teammates, and support staff on campus.”

“This award is such a great honor and will allow me to pursue my passion outside of athletics, which is human rights law,” continued Hornberger. “I plan on pursuing my Juris Doctor at Case Western Reserve University. Everything that YSU and the Horizon League has taught me will positively affect my experiences at CWRU, and, although I am leaving YSU, I will always be a Penguin at heart.”

“I will miss participating in Horizon League events very much, and hope that I contributed to the League’s success as much as it contributed to my own. Thank you for absolutely everything.”

As a member of the women’s basketball team, Hornberger became the program’s all-time leader in both 3-point shots made (199) and attempted (583).

“We are extremely proud of Liz for her work in the classroom and leading the women’s basketball program these last four years,” said head coach John Barnes. “She is a model student-athlete in every sense of the word. We want to congratulate her on the great honor of earning the Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship.

To be eligible for the scholarship, student-athletes must meet criteria in four distinct categories - academics, athletics, service and leadership. The recipient must have an overall minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, have competed with distinction as a member of a varsity sport, exhibited quality time working in the community/university in providing service to others, and demonstrated leadership qualities as a student at their institution and as a member of their intercollegiate program.

2014 Post-Graduate Scholarship Award Nominees:

Cleveland State University
Justin Kermack, Swimming & Diving
Michelle Ford, Women’s Golf

University of Detroit Mercy
Olumide Solanke, Men’s Basketball

University of Illinois at Chicago
Collin Weyer, Baseball
Jacki Fletcher, Softball

Oakland University
Miche’le Lipari, Men’s Soccer
Kourtney Grant, Women’s Soccer

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay
Carrie Dinelli, Diving

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Rachel Neuberger, Volleyball

Wright State University
Daniel Hyman, Men’s Tennis
Chelsea Girgash, Women’s Tennis

Youngstown State University
Michael Podolsky, Men’s Basketball
Elizabeth Hornberger, Women’s Basketball