Oakland's Marentette and Boyle Receive Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award

INDIANAPOLIS -- Oakland’s Spencer Marentette and Julianne Boyle are recipients of the Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award, as voted on by the League’s Faculty Athletics Representatives Committee.

“It’s a privilege to recognize Spencer and Julianne as the Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award recipients,” said Commissioner Jon LeCrone. “These exceptional student-athletes epitomize the Horizon League’s core values and underscore our commitment to enhancing the college experience through sports. We are proud of their accomplishments and wish them the best as they pursue their graduate degrees.”

In its second year of inception, the Horizon League annually provides 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.

Marentette majored in creative writing at Oakland while maintaining a 3.97 grade point average. He plans to earn a Masters of Fine Arts at the University of Southern California as a student in the Peter Stark Producing Program.

“I’ve been surrounded by so many great people over the past four years that have helped me along the way,” said Marentette. “I couldn’t have gotten to where I am without my family, coaches, and teammates. I’d also like to thank our FARs, Robby Stewart and Chris Stiller, and the Horizon League for this amazing opportunity. I couldn’t be more excited to be moving to Los Angeles to pursue my career goals, and this award will help my family and I immensely.”

Marentette was an infielder on baseball team for the Golden Grizzlies where he hit for a .229 batting average and posted a .966 fielding percentage this past season.

Boyle held a 3.93 grade point average as an engineering biology and health sciences major at Oakland. She will pursue medical school at the University of Michigan to begin her journey as a physician scientist.

“Things hardly come to us in the way we expect,” said Boyle. “I could never have predicted the journey that I have had at Oakland, and I am so happy to come by this unexpected success. Nothing I have accomplished would have been possible without the support of the staff, coaches, and teachers at Oakland University and the opportunities given by the Horizon League.”

“The experiences I have encountered as a student-athlete have also prepared me for my career as a physician, which I am so excited to start this fall,” continued Boyle. “I am extremely grateful to the Horizon League and to my Oakland family for this nomination and selection. I am proud and honored to receive this award and would like to fully express my heartfelt thanks.”

Boyle was a pivotal member of the women’s soccer team as a four-year starter for the Golden Grizzlies.

“It is wonderful that the Horizon League offers a postgraduate scholarship as an opportunity for our student-athletes who are interested in continuing on with their education,” said Oakland’s Senior Women’s Administrator Holly Kerstner. “Having both Julianne and Spencer as the recipients of this award is truly amazing. They gave their time and talents to Oakland and have become the epitome of an accomplished student-athlete. We are thankful to the Horizon League for awarding the post-graduate scholarship and incredibly proud to have Julianne and Spencer represent us as they start their next chapter in life as student-athlete alums.”

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.

2015 Post-Graduate Scholarship Award Nominees

Cleveland State University

Margaret Hannon, Volleyball

University of Detroit Mercy

Louisa Coppola, Women’s Cross Country / Track & Field

Matthew Ybarra, Men’s Soccer

University of Illinois at Chicago

Tess Ehrhardt, Women’s Cross Country / Track & Field

Oakland University

Julianne Boyle, Women’s Soccer

Spencer Marentette, Baseball

University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Hailey Mohrfeld, Softball

Michael Tenzer, Men’s Tennis

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Ashley Green, Women’s Basketball

Valparaiso University

Jacob Unger, Men’s Soccer

Abby Kenyon, Women’s Soccer

Wright State University

Kendall Griffin, Men’s Basketball

Youngstown State University

Marta Burak, Women’s Tennis