MORGANTOWN, West Virginia – Fifth graders Caleb Dowling of the West Virginia University wrestling program was selected as one of 28 Big 12 student-athletes to receive the Big 12 Conference’s 2023–24 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship on Thursday afternoon.

Criteria for awarding the scholarship include 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. Student-athletes must graduate from their respective member institution and enroll in a graduate or professional school of their choice within 15 months of being selected for the postgraduate scholarship.

The scholarships are named for the late Dr. Prentice Gautt, a former Big 12 Conference employee and student services pioneer who passed away in March 2005. The list of scholarship recipients has grown to 529 since the league’s founding in 1996-97. Beginning in 2002-03, additional funding increased the number of scholarship recipients to two per member institution.

To date, the Big 12 has provided over $3.9 million for postgraduate education. Individual scholarships began at $2,500 in 1996-97, increased to $5,000 in 1999 and $6,900 in 2004-05. Scholarships increased to $7,500 in 2006-07, increased to $9,000 in 2011-12 and have been at $10,000 since 2013-14.

 

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