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Scholarships & Fellowships at the Tucker Center

The Tucker Center's prestigious fellowship and scholarship awards are made possible through generous donations made by Friends of the Tucker Center to recognize and support the outstanding work of our enrolled graduate and undergraduate students. Congratulations to these deserving students.

2019-20 Award Winners


Dorothy McNeill Tucker Fellowship Fund

This Fellowship provides funding for graduate students examining issues related to gender equity within a sport and physical activity context.

image of Sarah Espinoza Sarah Espinoza earned her undergraduate degree in History and Education from the University of Florida in 2014, and her M.S. in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2016. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Sport and Exercise Psychology. In addition to coaching in a "Girls on the Run" program, Espinoza is a teaching assistant in the School of Kinesiology. She plans to devote her funding to research tools for physical and cognitive assessment and for traveling to conferences.

Edith Mueller Park & Recreation Memorial Award

Rewards participation and enthusiasm of undergraduate students pursuing a program in Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies, and encourages students to further their involvement and deepen their commitment to this discipline.

image of Grace Moehn Grace Moehn is a third-year undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Administration. Moehn serves as a Leader for Young Life College. She enjoys the community she has found through this student group and has learned how important relationships are in leadership. Through her involvement she has had the opportunity to serve two one-month long volunteer experiences at two separate summer camps in the country. After working in these settings, Moehn discovered her interest in outdoor recreation, specifically with younger children and has since focused her courses on recreation with a youth studies emphasis. Moehn has worked many jobs that align with her recreation interests including as a special event coordinator with Monroe Parks and Recreation, a swim instructor with Learn to Swim campus recreation, and as a customer service representative with the U of M’s Ticket Office. Through these endeavors Moehn has learned her passion for programs that seek to improve quality of life for all stressing the importance of healthy activities that support active lives. Moehn participates in these activities herself where she can be found swimming, kayaking, hiking and paddle boarding. She hopes to be able to use these passions someday to help teach youth how to discover adventure and find joy outdoors.

Pam Borton Endowment for the Promotion of Girls and Women in Sport Leadership

The Pam Borton Fellowship was established in 2014 by friends and family members of Coach Borton. The mission of the Fellowship is to promote and support graduate students affiliated with the Tucker Center who examine significant issues surrounding leadership and gender within a sport context. Borton Fellows may also explore the mechanisms, role and impact of sport on leadership development among young girls and women.

image of Courtney Boucher Courtney Boucher received her B.A. in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN where she also played ice hockey. Upon graduation, she served as Gustavus' Assistant Women's Hockey Coach from 2015-17. Boucher is currently a Master’s degree candidate in Kinesiology specializing in Sport Sociology and this fall she will pursue a doctorate degree in the School of Kinesiology as well as be a teaching assistant. Boucher will use her award funding for academic pursuits and research expenses.

Tucker Center Fellowship for Gender Equity in Sport

The Tucker Center Graduate Fellowship for Gender Equity in Sport provides funding for graduate fellowships in the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.

image of McKenzie Arbeiter McKenzie Arbeiter graduated from the U of M with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a minor in Coaching. Currently, she is a Masters of Kinesiology graduate student with an emphasis in Sport Psychology. Arbeiter is a youth and high school soccer coach in the Metro area. She will use her fellowship funding to support research travel to sport psychology conferences this year.

2018-19 Award Winners


Dorothy McNeill Tucker Fellowship Fund

This Fellowship provides funding for graduate students examining issues related to gender equity within a sport and physical activity context.

image of Mikinzee Salo Mikinzee Salo is an M.S. student in the School of Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Sociology. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from St. Catherine University in St. Paul where she also played on the women’s tennis team. Salo currently serves as the Assistant Women’s Tennis Coach for St. Kate’s and is a supervisor at Tennis and Life Camps at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN during the summer. This Fall, Salo will continue her work as a Graduate Assistant in the Tucker Center analyzing data regarding the Women Coaches Report Card. She will use her Fellowship funding for travel to conferences and symposia and to further her own research on women in the coaching profession.

image of Courtney Boucher Courtney Boucher received her B.A. in Chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN where she was a member of the women’s hockey team. Upon graduation, she served as Gustavus' Assistant Women's Hockey Coach from 2015-17. Boucher is currently a Master’s degree candidate in Kinesiology specializing in Sport Sociology. She also teaches Beginning Skating courses in the School of Kinesiology's Physical Activity Program. Boucher will use her Tucker Fellowship award for travel to professional conferences and to fund her own research on the impact of sports on girls and women.

Edith Mueller Park & Recreation Memorial Award

Rewards participation and enthusiasm of undergraduate students pursuing a program in Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies, and encourages students to further their involvement and deepen their commitment to this discipline.

image of Brooke Moren Brooke Moren is a B.A. degree student in Recreation Administration. She also attends University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she is completing requirements for the National Certified Therapeutic Recreation certification exam. She transferred from Central Lakes College in Brainerd, MN where she earned an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Horticulture and an Associates in Arts degree. While attending Central Lakes College, Moren developed Healthy Food, Healthy Students, a project which included cooking classes, a D2L informational webpage, and community partnerships to increase food access. At the U of M she joined the Nutritious U’s Leadership Team at the University of Minnesota. Moren is currently developing a therapeutic horticulture program for residents of a nursing home facility where she is employed. She has already received several local and state scholarships and is a member of the Tai Sigma National Honor Society. Her dream is to become a Recreational Therapist, specializing in horticulture therapy to help heal people. Outside of her studies, Moren enjoys spending time with her family, beekeeping, gardening, and caring for her grandma.

Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship at the Tucker Center

The Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship provides funding to support important issues related to girls' and women's involvement in sport and physical activity.

image of McKenzie Arbeiter McKenzie Arbeiter graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2017 with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and a minor in Coaching. Currently, she is working on her M.S. degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology. Arbeiter is a Physical Activity Program soccer instructor at the U of M and is also works as a youth and high school soccer coach in the great Metro area. She will use her scholarship to fund her research on women and girls in sport to study the connection between coaching styles and athlete well-being.

Edith Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education in the Tucker Center

The Edie Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education is used to support graduate education, including graduate assistantships, research support, and travel to research conferences.

image of Sarah M. Espinoza Sarah M. Espinoza earned her undergraduate degree in History and Education from the University of Florida and her M.S. in Kinesiology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sport and Exercise Psychology. In addition to being involved with program evaluation for Girls on the Run, Sarah is a TA in the School of Kinesiology where she is involved with a diverse set of undergraduate courses ranging from history and philosophy to research methods. Espinoza’s research interests include self-regulation and psychosocial development through sport and physical activity, and she endeavors to positively impact sport programming to make it enjoyable and beneficial for participants and their families. She will use her Scholarship award toward research tools, such as developmentally appropriate cognitive testing software, and conference travel. Beyond her work at the U of M, Espinoza is involved in competitive ultimate frisbee and has most recently played with the top mixed club team in the Twin Cities.

image of Eli Kelley Eli Kelley is doctoral student in exercise physiology and works under the guidance of Dr. Bruce Johnson, director of the Human Integrative and Environmental Physiology Research Laboratory, and Dr. Troy Cross, a postdoctoral Fellow with a background in pulmonary mechanics, both at the Mayo Clinic. Kelley is keenly interested in human and sports performance and is the first person in his family to pursue a college degree. He earned his undergraduate in Kinesiology at the U of M-Duluth where he played football, winning two national championships. As a graduate student his research interests evolved from supplementation and sports performance to his current work with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), specifically effective and non-invasive measures of pulmonary mechanics with the goal of increasing lifespan and improving quality of life in this population.

image of Francesca Principe Francesca Principe is an M.S. student in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology. A native of Lemont, IL, she grew up in a family that was sport-oriented, so she played multiple sports in her youth. She received her B.A. in Exercise Science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and was a member of the women’s hockey team. While playing hockey, she suffered a major injury which deepened her interest in the psychology of athletes. In 2017, Principe came to the U of M to pursue her graduate degree in Sport Psychology under Dr. Wiese-Bjornstal. She has worked on various research projects and taught discussion sections of the undergraduate Sport Psychology course. Outside of school, Principe plays with her puppy, works out, and plays the piano. Upon graduation she hopes to become a Sport Psychology consultant and work with athletes recovering from injuries. She is excited to begin work on her thesis and continue to learn more about the field of Sport Psychology.

Pam Borton Endowment for the Promotion of Girls and Women in Sport Leadership

The Pam Borton Fellowship was established in 2014 by friends and family members of Coach Borton. The mission of the Fellowship is to promote and support graduate students affiliated with the Tucker Center who examine significant issues surrounding leadership and gender within a sport context. Borton Fellows may also explore the mechanisms, role and impact of sport on leadership development among young girls and women.

image of Matea Wasend Matea WasendMatea Wasend recently earned a Master's Degree in Sport Sociology in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, with a focus on women in coaching. She works as a Research Assistant in the Tucker Center and a Teaching Assistant within the School of Kinesiology. Wasend also coaches soccer with Saint Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club. She graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, where she studied English and Media Studies and played soccer. As a Borton Fellow, Wasend is helping to write and edit the ten-year installment of the Tucker Center Research Report, and co-authoring a report on best practices for athletic directors looking to recruit, hire and retain women coaches.

Tucker Center Fellowship for Gender Equity in Sport

The Tucker Center Graduate Fellowship for Gender Equity in Sport provides funding for graduate fellowships in the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.

image of Anna Baeth Anna Baeth is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota in the area of Sport Sociology. Baeth was the Head Field Hockey Coach at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. Prior to that position, she served as the Assistant Field Hockey Coach at Mount Holyoke College and the Assistant Lacrosse Coach at Elms College. While in Western Massachusetts, Baeth earned her M.S. degree from Smith College where she completed her thesis, "The Voice(less) Behind the Whistle: Narrative as Definition, Typology, and Experience." In 2009, she rode her bicycle cross-country with the non-profit Bike and Build to raise awareness of affordable housing issues. Baeth received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College in Sociology and Anthropology. At Swarthmore, she also founded the not-for-profit organization Chester Neighborhood Bike Works, which allows young people to earn, build, and safely ride bicycles. Currently, Baeth is a Research Assistant in the Tucker Center and coaches lacrosse and rock climbing.

2017-18 Award Winners


Dorothy McNeill Tucker Fellowship Fund

This Fellowship provides funding for graduate students examining issues related to gender equity within a sport and physical activity context.

image of Anna Baeth Anna Baeth is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Minnesota, studying Sport Sociology. Most recently, Baeth was the Head Field Hockey Coach at Oberlin College and Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. Prior to that position, she served as the Assistant Field Hockey Coach at Mount Holyoke College and the Assistant Lacrosse Coach at Elms College. While in Western Massachusetts, Baeth earned her Master of Science degree from Smith College where she completed her thesis, "The Voice(less) Behind the Whistle: Narrative as Definition, Typology, and Experience." In 2009, she rode her bicycle cross-country with the non-profit Bike and Build to raise awareness of affordable housing issues. Baeth received her undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College in Sociology and Anthropology. At Swarthmore, she also founded the not-for-profit organization Chester Neighborhood Bike Works, which allows young people to earn, build, and safely ride bicycles. Currently, Baeth is a Research Assistant in the Tucker Center and coaches lacrosse and rock climbing.

Edith Mueller Park & Recreation Memorial Award

Rewards participation and enthusiasm of undergraduate students pursuing a program in Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies, and encourages students to further their involvement and deepen their commitment to this discipline.

image of Steven Lipovetsky Steven Lipovetsky is a Recreation Administration student in the School of Kinesiology’s program in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). He is originally from Hopkins, Minnesota, and is a first generation Russian in the United States. He is passionate about recreation and the benefits it has for the community. It fulfills him to help people achieve their physical and mental goals with fitness, as well as living a healthy lifestyle. Being a Rec Administration Major, Steven hopes to continue working in University Recreation Wellness Center as a fitness coordinator. Outside of recreation, Steven likes to do fitness business consulting, Russian translation, and sing in the A Capella group called “Basses Wild.”

Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship at the Tucker Center

The Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship provides funding to support important issues related to girls' and women's involvement in sport and physical activity.

image of Muna Mohamed Muna Mohamed received her B.S. in Exercise Science from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Currently, Mohamed is a Master's student in the School of Kinesiology with an emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology under her adviser Dr. Chelsey Thul. Mohamed is currently working on a research project on the Impact of an East African Mother-Daughter Physical Activity Program and Co-Design Active Wear. Mohamed created the first ever AAU traveling basketball team in the Cedar Riverside Community, which provides East African and Muslims girls access to culturally sensitive active wear to further help them develop their athletic skills. Mohamed aspires to continue to use coaching as a mechanism to empower young East African and Muslim girls to engage in an active lifestyle and to participate in organized sports.

Edith Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education in the Tucker Center

The Edie Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education is used to support graduate education, including graduate assistantships, research support, and travel to research conferences.

image of Kristin Wood Kristin Wood is a Ph.D. student in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota with an emphasis in Physical Activity and Sport Science. She graduated from California State University, Fresno with her B.S. in Kinesiology–Athletic Training. Wood was a graduate intern athletic trainer at the University of California, Berkeley while earning her Master’s degree in Kinesiology–Athletic Training from Fresno Pacific University. Wood is a certified athletic trainer who has worked in a variety of settings including NCAA Division I and professional arena football, and additionally as a master trainer and fitness manager. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. under the supervision of Tucker Center Affiliated Scholar Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, focusing on the psychological aspects of sport injury. Wood will use her scholarship for conference travel and to further her research in enhancing current and future athletic trainers’ perceived competency in optimizing psychosocial strategies to increase adherence to injury prevention and rehabilitation programs.

image of Hailee Moehnke Hailee Moehnke is pursuing her Masters of Science in Kinesiology, with an emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Her research area of focus is in Positive Youth Development under her advisor, Dr. Maureen Weiss, as Hailee is interested in learning how participation in sport and physical activity affects youth psychological and social maturity. Originally from Katy, Texas, Moehnke attended the University of Minnesota and received a B.S. in Kinesiology in 2016. She is a graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Kinesiology. She also coaches competitive youth volleyball in various locations around the Twin Cities. Moehnke plans to graduate with her Master’s in May 2018 and pursue a career in the non-profit organization industry, focusing on female youth sport participation.

Pam Borton Endowment for the Promotion of Girls and Women in Sport Leadership

The Pam Borton Fellowship was established in 2014 by friends and family members of Coach Borton. The mission of the Fellowship is to promote and support graduate students affiliated with the Tucker Center who examine significant issues surrounding leadership and gender within a sport context. Borton Fellows may also explore the mechanisms, role and impact of sport on leadership development among young girls and women.

image of Matea Wasend Matea WasendMatea Wasend is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Sport Sociology at the University of Minnesota, with a focus on women in coaching. She works as a Research Assistant in the Tucker Center and a Teaching Assistant within the School of Kinesiology. Wasend also coaches soccer with Saint Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club and Cretin-Derham Hall High School. She graduated from Macalester College in St. Paul, where she studied English and Media Studies and played soccer.

Tucker Center Fellowship for Gender Equity in Sport

The Tucker Center Graduate Fellowship for Gender Equity in Sport provides funding for graduate fellowships in the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.

image of Caroline Heffernan Caroline HeffernanCaroline Heffernan is a Ph.D. student in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis in Sport Management. Heffernan graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in psychology. At Bryn Mawr, she also played field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. After graduation, she served as Bryn Mawr's Assistant Field Hockey Coach and attended Temple University, where she earned a Master's Degree in Sport & Recreation Management. Her dissertation will focus on how men and women can work as allies within sport organizations to create more opportunities for women in leadership. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, cooking and exploring with her friends.

2016-17 Award Winners


Dorothy McNeill Tucker Fellowship Fund

This Fellowship provides funding for graduate students examining issues related to gender equity within a sport and physical activity context.

image of Lauren Billing A Colorado native, Lauren Billing received her B.A. in psychology and religious studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. After completing her Master’s degree at the U of M with an emphasis in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Lauren is currently a doctoral student in the same academic area under the direction of Professor Beth Lewis. Billing also consults in mental training with local athletes, teams, and exercisers. She will use her fellowship funding for nutrition accreditation as well as travel to international conferences in order to translate her research to practice.

image of Holly Crane Holly Crane received her B.A. in Comparative Literature and Africana Studies from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Upon graduation, she became a certified personal trainer, and is currently a Master’s degree candidate in Kinesiology specializing in Behavioral Aspects of Physical Activity under the direction of Professor Beth Lewis. Crane also teaches Weight Training and Conditioning and is a Teaching Assistant for History and Philosophy of Sport. Crane's research examines unrealistic media images that damage female identity in and out of the gym. She will use her award for conference travel and to fund her research on the social and psychological factors that affect the female experience in the gym, including gender-role stress and dual identity contradictions.

Edith Mueller Park & Recreation Memorial Award

Rewards participation and enthusiasm of undergraduate students pursuing a program in Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies, and encourages students to further their involvement and deepen their commitment to this discipline.

image of Harrison Kaine Harrison Kaine is a Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies and Sport Management major at the University of Minnesota. He plans on graduating in the Spring of 2018 with this double major and a minor in Leadership. Kaine grew up in Plymouth, Minnesota, a suburb about 20 minutes from the Twin Cities campus. Here he had always dreamed of being a Golden Gopher from a young age. After graduation he wants to help the park system in Minnesota develop so that every child growing up in Minnesota has the same opportunities he had when growing up. Kaine adds that "Growing up with sports always meant the world to me and I got my first chance doing that in the park system and want everyone to have that chance."

Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship at the Tucker Center

The Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship provides funding to support important issues related to girls' and women's involvement in sport and physical activity.

image of Anna Baeth Anna Baeth graduated from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania with an undergraduate degree in Sociology/Anthropology where she also founded the not-for-profit organization, Chester Neighborhood Bike Works. Baeth earned her M.S. in Exercise and Sport Studies, with a focus on coaching collegiate women, from Smith College, and most recently was the Head Field Hockey Coach at Oberlin College and Conservatory. Currently, Baeth is a doctoral student in Sport Sociology being advised by Drs. Mary Jo Kane and Nicole M. LaVoi. She also serves as a Research Assistant in the Tucker Center. She will use her scholarship for travel to professional conferences, including the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS), and to further her research on media representations of women in sport.

Edith Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education in the Tucker Center

The Edie Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education is used to support graduate education, including graduate assistantships, research support, and travel to research conferences.

image of Holly Crane Holly Crane received her B.A. in Comparative Literature and Africana Studies from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Upon graduation, she became a certified personal trainer, and is currently a Master’s degree candidate in Kinesiology specializing in Behavioral Aspects of Physical Activity under the direction of Professor Beth Lewis. Crane also teaches Weight Training and Conditioning and is a Teaching Assistant for History and Philosophy of Sport. Crane's research examines unrealistic media images that damage female identity in and out of the gym. She will use her award for conference travel and to fund her research on the social and psychological factors that affect the female experience in the gym, including gender-role stress and dual identity contradictions.

Pam Borton Endowment for the Promotion of Girls and Women in Sport Leadership

The Pam Borton Fellowship was established in 2014 by friends and family members of Coach Borton. The mission of the Fellowship is to promote and support graduate students affiliated with the Tucker Center who examine significant issues surrounding leadership and gender within a sport context. Borton Fellows may also explore the mechanisms, role and impact of sport on leadership development among young girls and women.

image of Caroline Heffernan Caroline Heffernan is a doctoral student in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota, with an emphasis in Sport Management. Heffernan received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania where she also played field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse. She served as Bryn Mawr's Assistant Field Hockey Coach while attending Temple University, where she earned a Master's Degree in Sport & Recreation Management. Heffernan is currently pursuing her Ph.D. under the supervision of Tucker Center Affiliated Scholar, Professor Lisa Kihl. her research focuses on how women and men can work as allies within sport organizations to create more opportunities for women to advance to higher leadership positions. As part of her Fellowship, Heffernan will work with Tucker Center Co-director Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi analyzing data around the women coaches report card. She will also play a key role in planning the Fall Distinguished Lecture Series which will highlight women in sport leadership positions.

2015-16 Award Winners


Edith Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education in the Tucker Center

The income from the fund will be used to support graduate education, including but not limited to graduate assistantships, research support, travel to conferences, and equipment.

Lauren Billing is a Colorado native. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology and religious studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. Watching the Zags play basketball is one of her favorite pastimes. Lauren completed her master's at the U of M with an emphasis in sport and exercise psychology. Her thesis focused on pre-performance routines (PPRs) in volleyball serves. Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in the same emphasis under the direction of Dr. Beth Lewis, who she works with on the Healthy Mom II study. Lauren has continued her line of research on routines through the use of focus groups with beginning marathon runners. She also consults in mental training with local athletes, teams, and exercisers. She enjoys reading, hiking, golfing, travelling, antiquing, and craft projects.

Andrew White is currently a second-year doctoral student in Kinesiology in the Physical Activity and Sport Science emphasis area. After completing his Master's degree in clinical psychology from the University of Windsor, he moved to Minnesota to pursue his interest in the psychology of sport and physical activity. Andrew's specific interests in this area are centered on the psychology of sport injury and interventions to reduce injury rates in sports (particularly youth sports). In his spare time, he enjoys hiking and kayaking with his wife and their dogs, golfing, playing basketball, racquetball, softball, and many other sports.

Edith Mueller Park & Recreation Memorial Award

Rewards participation and enthusiasm of undergraduate students pursuing a program in Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies, and encourages students to further their involvement and deepen their commitment to this discipline.

Laura Lee Stigen was born and raised in La Crosse, WI, and is in her first semester at the University of Minnesota. She has been working toward her degree in Recreation, Park, and Leisure studies, and loves every minute of it. After graduating with her Occupational Therapy degree, she decided that she wanted to further her education to attain her dream job. She has been volunteering in homeless shelters since high school, which has been the most rewarding experiences of her life. This led her to take a train out to Portland, Oregon to help the homeless population there. She also leads support groups and recreational activities in hopes of inspiring those around her. Unfortunately, a birth defect affected Laura in her early 20s; fortunately, she was lucky enough to have a transplant procedure here at the University of Minnesota. Now, here at the University, Laura is a Gopher, a full time art teacher, and a student chasing her dreams in hopes of becoming a Recreational Therapist in a homeless shelter.

Kayla van der Hagen is a sophomore at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, majoring in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure studies with minors in Outdoor Recreation and Spanish. Both she and her family are originally from Aitkin, Minnesota. Kayla is a first generation, low-income college student who was homeschooled from third to tenth grade, and finished her high school education by attending Central Lakes College as a part of a Postsecondary Educational Opportunity (PSEO) program. In her free time she takes ballroom dance classes, practices judo, and reads any book she can get her hands on. In the future, she hopes to travel to all seven continents.

Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship at the Tucker Center

To provide scholarships within the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport.

Marnie Kinnaird began competing in cross-country and track as a high school freshman in Oak Park, IL. Her love of running inspired her to major in kinesiology at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Inspired by her coursework at Occidental, she became fascinated with the psychosocial aspects of sport as well as their intersections with social justice. Subsequently, she developed interests in the transformative power of sport and sport feminism, and conducted her senior thesis on the development of mental toughness in Division III female athletes.
   Now a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Marnie is working toward a Master's degree in sport and exercise psychology and serves as a research assistant in the Tucker Center. Advised by Tucker Center co-director Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, she plans on examining resilience in female coaches for her thesis. As the 2015 recipient of the Pam Borton Endowment for the Promotion of Girls and Women in Sport, Marnie is involved with data collection and analysis for projects related to female coach turnover and retention. She also assists with the dissemination of Tucker Center research.
   Marnie hopes to eventually complete a doctoral degree and become a university professor. When she's not in class or working at the Tucker Center, Marnie enjoys riding her bicycle, listening to National Public Radio, reading poetry, and music. Marnie, who competed for the cross-country and track teams at both Occidental and Minnesota, still runs every day.
   "The Tucker Center's work is indispensable because sport is context where sexism is still widely permitted. By elevating women in sport and sport leadership, we can make strides towards gender equality in far-reaching domains such as education and the workplace. I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity to work directly towards advancing the Tucker Center's mission, as well as for the generosity of our supporters that has made this opportunity possible."

Andrea Stark is a Doctoral student in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota studying sport and exercise psychology with Dr. Maureen Weiss. Her primary interest is in the social psychological climate of dance studios and its influence on the well-being of young dancers. While attaining an undergraduate degree in exercise science and psychology and a Master's degree in exercise and sport science from the University of Utah, she spent over 13 years teaching dance. She continues to teach whenever the opportunity is given and hopes to extend her contributions to the dance community through applied research. Her current research involves a study of dance teachers' philosophies and teaching strategies and their students' perceptions of how effective teachers are in creating the climate they aim to create.

Pam Borton Endowment for the Promotion of Girls and Women in Sport Leadership

To provide financial support to a) graduate students, b) enrolled in the College of Education and Human Development, c) studying Kinesiology, d) who are doing research in conjunction with the Tucker Center related to leadership, sport and gender or research which examines the mechanisms, role and impact of sport on leadership development among girls and women.

Marnie Kinnaird began competing in cross-country and track as a high school freshman in Oak Park, IL. Her love of running inspired her to major in kinesiology at Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA. Inspired by her coursework at Occidental, she became fascinated with the psychosocial aspects of sport as well as their intersections with social justice. Subsequently, she developed interests in the transformative power of sport and sport feminism, and conducted her senior thesis on the development of mental toughness in Division III female athletes.
   Now a graduate student at the University of Minnesota, Marnie is working toward a Master's degree in sport and exercise psychology and serves as a research assistant in the Tucker Center. Advised by Tucker Center co-director Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi, she plans on examining resilience in female coaches for her thesis. As the 2015 recipient of the Pam Borton Endowment for the Promotion of Girls and Women in Sport, Marnie is involved with data collection and analysis for projects related to female coach turnover and retention. She also assists with the dissemination of Tucker Center research.
   Marnie hopes to eventually complete a doctoral degree and become a university professor. When she's not in class or working at the Tucker Center, Marnie enjoys riding her bicycle, listening to National Public Radio, reading poetry, and music. Marnie, who competed for the cross-country and track teams at both Occidental and Minnesota, still runs every day.
   "The Tucker Center's work is indispensable because sport is context where sexism is still widely permitted. By elevating women in sport and sport leadership, we can make strides towards gender equality in far-reaching domains such as education and the workplace. I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity to work directly towards advancing the Tucker Center's mission, as well as for the generosity of our supporters that has made this opportunity possible."

2014-15 Award Winners


Dorothy McNeill Tucker Fellowship Fund

  • Andrew Charles White, Ph.D. student in Kinesiology: Physical Activity and Sport Science (Dr. Diane Wiese-Bjornstal, adviser)

Edith Mueller Endowed Fund for Graduate Education in the Tucker Center

  • Skylar Schulz, M.S. student in Kinesiology: Sport and Exercise Psychology (Dr. Maureen Weiss, adviser)

Edith Mueller Park & Recreation Memorial Award

  • Alyssa Marie Schmelling, B.S. student in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies (Connie Magnuson, adviser)

Eloise M. Jaeger Scholarship at the Tucker Center

  • Lauren Elizabeth Billing, Ph.D. student in Kinesiology: Sport and Exercise Psychology (Dr. Beth Lewis, adviser)

Tucker Center Graduate Fellowship for Gender Equity in Sport

  • Torrie Hazelwood, M.S. student in Kinesiology: Sport Sociology (Dr. Nicole M. LaVoi & Dr. Jo Ann Buysse, advisers)

 

More information about giving to these fellowship & scholarship awards can be found here.

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