Ricki Rothbauer

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University’s Ricki Rothbauer has been awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship of $7,500.

The NCAA awarded 58 postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each to 29 men and 29 women who participated in spring sports. Rothbauer was one of four softball players this year to receive a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA.

Rothbauer is the 10th NKU student-athlete in the past seven years to receive an NCAA postgraduate scholarship. NKU’s Michelle Cottrell, Shannon Smith, Kevin Listerman, Malissa Stevenson, Eva Broeg, Kim Keyer-Scott, Stephanie Leimbach, Kristin Koralewski and Kristen Votapek also received NCAA postgraduate scholarships during the past seven years.

Rothbauer, a senior second baseman and a native of Louisville, Ky., was selected third team All-American this season by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She batted .379 with a team-leading 80 hits this season.

Rothbauer also collected 10 doubles and scored a team-leading 46 runs this season. A graduate of DuPont Manual High School, Rothbauer finished No. 3 in Norse history with 234 career hits.

A year ago, Rothbauer was named a first team All-America selection by the NFCA as NKU set a collegiate softball record by winning 55 consecutive games.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.200 (on a 4.000 scale) or its equivalent, and must have performed with distinction as a member of the varsity team in the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated. The student-athlete must have behaved, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to the student-athlete, the institution and intercollegiate athletics.

The student-athlete also must intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.