May 21, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Two of Penn State's top student-athletes will receive prestigious NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarships, the Association announced today. Gymnast Scott Rosenthal (Clearfield, Pa.) and wrestler Quentin Wright (Wingate, Pa.) were each honored with the award, which carries a $7,500 scholarship for postgraduate study at the university or professional school of the student-athletes choice.
Rosenthal adds the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship to his Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship that he was awarded last week. The two-time All-Big Ten pick was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and earned College Gymnastics Association All-America Scholar-Athlete merit all four years he was on campus.
Rosenthal was a three-time All-America performer on the still rings, was the Big Ten still rings champion in 2012. An All-Big Ten selection in 2010 and 2011, he is the school record holder on the still rings and, after battling a shoulder injury for most of his senior season, was able to place third at the NCAA Championships and earn his third All-America distinction.
Rosenthal is the second Penn State men's gymnast to earn a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA, joining José Palacios, who earned the distinction in 2005. He also earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award at the conclusion of the 2012 and 2013 championships.
Wright closed out a stellar career by winning the 197-pound NCAA title in Des Moines to clinch Penn State's third straight team title and a 32-0 regular season. He leaves Penn State with a final career record of 116-23, is tied for 10th on Penn State's all-time wins list and is tied for second on Penn State's all-time pins list with 37.
Wright leaves Penn State as its sixth four-time All-American (1st in '13, 2nd in '12, 1st in '11 and 6th in '09). Wright graduated this May with a double major in management and labor relations and posted a 3.25 GPA. He was also named to the NWCA's national first team All-Academic squad, his third first team national All-Academic nod. Wright was also a four-time first team Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
Wright was a two-time Big Ten Champion, a two-time first team All-Big Ten selection and competed in this year's NWCA All-Star Classic in Washington, D.C. He is the third wrestler to win the award, joining Jim Martin (1989) and Scott Lynch (1983).
To qualify for consideration, each recipient must have earned at least a "B" cumulative average (3.0 on Penn State's 4.0 grade-point scale) and also must have performed with distinction in his or her sport, thus epitomizing the term "student-athlete." Rosenthal and Wright become the 44th and 45th Penn State student-athletes to receive the award and are the first since 2008.