INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Senior co-captain Randall Cooper (Friends School/Phoenix, Md.) of the Towson University men's lacrosse team has been named as a recipient of an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, it has been announced by the NCAA.

Cooper is one of 87 male student-athletes among the three NCAA divisions to receive a postgraduate scholarship. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. Eligible student-athletes must have an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.20 (based on a 4.00 scale) or higher.

"Randall is an exceptional student-athlete that demonstrated academic success, athletic achievement and outstanding leadership during his four years at Towson," Towson Director of Athletics Mike Hermann says. "I'm pleased that the NCAA selection committee recognized his achievements and awarded him the prestigious Post-Graduate Scholarship. I know that Randall will make the most of his post-graduate opportunities, just as he did during his undergraduate career, and that he will continue to bring recognition to his alma mater and the men's lacrosse program."

"Randall has been an outstanding role model as a Towson University student-athlete with exemplary work in his academic endeavors, outstanding talent and leadership on the field, and a generosity of spirit displayed through his community outreach and service activities," Towson University Faculty Athletics Representative Gail Gasparich says. "I have had many student-athletes in my classes and Randall really rises above most of the rest in his dedication to his studies, his motivation and his intellectual curiosity."

A Biology major with a 3.85 Grade Point Average, Cooper started 16 of 17 games for the Tigers, who advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association Championship Game. He ranked fourth on the team as a senior with 25 points by scoring 12 goals with 13 assists.

Cooper scored two goals with two assists in the Tigers' win over Robert Morris on March 21 and against Johns Hopkins on April 22.

Named as a Lowe's Senior CLASS Award candidate, Cooper was also the recipient of the Saxon Award. He finished his career with 43 goals and 38 assists.

Cooper also earned CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II first team honors. He was also named as a candidate for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.

A seven-time Dean's List honoree, Cooper is a three-time selection to the Colonial Athletic Association's Commissioner's List and was the recipient of the Joseph Ferrante Memorial Scholarship Award last year.

In addition, Cooper spent the last two summers working on cancer research at Johns Hopkins while also participating in clinics and volunteering at a local Boys and Girls Club.

"The Towson Lacrosse program is extremely proud of Randall's accomplishments on and off the field," Coach Tony Seaman says. "Once again, he has achieved excellence and this time, he is being rewarded for his outstanding achievements in the classroom. Randall has been a key contributor throughout his playing career and he richly deserves the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship as he makes plans to move into the medical field of study."

Cooper is the fifth Towson athlete since the 2001-02 academic year to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. In 2001-02, Gregg Davies of the Tiger baseball team and David Adkins of the Tiger swimming and diving team were honored with postgraduate scholarships. Ben Whitacre of the football team received a postgraduate scholarship award in 2002-03 while former men's soccer standout Nigel Marples was a scholarship recipient during the 2006-07 year.

2009-07-15