June 4, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University women's basketball guard Elizabeth Doran was recognized for her excellent performance both on the court and in the classroom on Thursday as she was awarded the West Coast Conference's Postgraduate Scholarship, it was announced by WCC commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. The men's award went to Portland's cross country runner David Kinsella.
She is the first SCU women's basketball student-athlete to receive the honor and the third Bronco to earn the award. Last year, men's basketball forward Mitch Henke won the men's postgraduate scholarship and, in 2005, cross country runner Robin Bell won the women's award.
"The West Coast Conference is committed to supporting our student-athletes who want to pursue postgraduate education," said Zaninovich. "I feel honored to recognize David and Elizabeth as WCC Postgraduate Scholars and know they will continue to represent the ideals of the WCC."
"We are so excited for Liz in receiving this honor," said head women's basketball coach Jennifer Mountain. "Liz is a standout student who takes academics very serious. Her hard work and determination in the classroom have truly set her aside. I am excited for her future as she has aspirations to really make a difference in this world."
"I would like to thank Jason Stock for nominating me for this scholarship and thank the WCC for choosing me as the women's postgraduate scholarship recipient," said Doran. "The award will be put to good use next year as I begin work toward a graduate degree in neuroscience at the University of Idaho. I would also like to extend a big thank you to the coaches I have had over the past four years for their support of my academic pursuits and putting up with scheduling around my hectic class/lab schedules!"
A native of Corvallis, Ore., Doran carries a 3.93 cumulative grade-point average in bio-engineering with a minor in Spanish Studies and will graduate this month with Summa Cum Laude honors. Her determination and drive in the classroom extends to her team-leading efforts on the court. Doran is a two-time CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-District VIII First Team member, Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Women's Scholar-Athlete, and WCC All-Academic Team member. In addition in 2007, she was awarded the Carl. H. Hayn Physics Prize, given to the most outstanding student in the sequence Physics for Scientists and Engineers I, II and III as selected by the faculty who teach the sequence.
Doran has also committed many hours to community service, including being a volunteer teacher at Gardner Academy Elementary, the Special Olympics and at Skills Plus, a stroke victim rehabilitation center. Next year, she will be attending the University of Idaho and will be working towards a PhD in Neuroscience.
Doran started in 28 of 31 contests for the Broncos and led the team with 62 three-point field goals. She was second on the squad with 8.5 points per game and with an 86.2 FT%. Doran compiled a 17-game streak in which she sunk at least one three-pointer. It was just four games shy of her personal-best 21-game streak that she produced in 2007-08. In the WCC, she was second in 3FGs made and ninth with a 31.8 3FG%. Her 62 three-pointers this season places her eighth on the Broncos' all-time single-season list.
As a junior, Doran received three academic honors as she was named to the WCC All-Academic team, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Women's Scholar-Athlete team and to ESPN the Magazine's Academic All-District VIII First Team. She led the Broncos with a 39.4 3FG percentage, a 90.7 free throw percentage and 18 blocks.
Committed to promoting the educational experience and academic achievements of its student-athletes, the WCC provides one male and one female student-athlete with a scholarship to assist them in their graduate school or professional school education. Candidates must own a minimum 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, demonstrate a significant athletic contribution on the varsity athletic level in a WCC sponsored sport and participate in a WCC sport for a minimum of two years. In addition, candidates must have a record of participating in campus or community activities, completed their athletic eligibility, and competed in intercollegiate athletics in the academic year in which they are nominated.