July 6, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Abi Casillo, a member of the Samford softball team and a 2004 graduate of the university, has been chosen as a recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The NCAA has awarded 58 postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each to 29 men and 29 women who participated in spring sports.

To qualify for an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, a student-athlete must have an overall grade-point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) and must have performed with distinction on the field as well. The student-athlete must have behaved on and off the field in a manner that has brought credit to them, the institution they represent and intercollegiate athletics. The student-athlete must also intend to continue academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.

Casillo graduated with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. She was named to the dean's list each semester and was a regular on conference all-academic teams. She was a two-time recipient of the Howard E. Wilcox Biology Award, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta National Biology Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi National College Honors Society.

Casillo was also inducted in to the inaugural Samford chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society for student-athletes who are juniors or seniors and have a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher, this May. Casillo was a four-year member of the Samford Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Casillo was a four-year letterwinner as an outfielder for Samford. She was named to the 2001 Trans America Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team and the 2001 Reebok Invitational All-Tournament Team. She was a member of the team that posted the first winning season in Samford softball history and is in sixth place in Samford history for career home runs.

Casillo has been accepted as a full-time student to the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine, where she will pursue a PhD. in Animal Reproduction along with the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. She will begin coursework in the fall of 2004.