Hiltunen Award NCAA Scholarship

Will Pursue Master's Degree at VCU

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. --- Randolph-Macon College women's basketball student-athlete Amanda Hiltunen has been awarded a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Postgraduate Scholarship. The award is a $7,500 scholarship for academic work beyond the baccalaureate degree as a full-time or part-time graduate student.

Hiltunen is one of 58 student-athletes (29 men and 29 women) from all NCAA Divisions to receive the scholarship after participating in a winter sport. The NCAA awards 174 scholarships annually in the fall, winter and spring seasons.

Hiltunen will attend Virginia Commonwealth University's SportsCenter in the fall with the hopes of pursuing a career in sports marketing. She will also return to her alma mater, Hermitage High School, as an assistant coach on the girls basketball staff.

"More important than just a four-year education, Randolph-Macon has prepared me for any career I pursue," said Hiltunen. "Every student here is not only given a great education opportunity, but a chance to be a well-rounded young adult when they enter life after graduation. As I head to graduate school to study sports marketing, I know the skills that I developed here will not only help me succeed at VCU but also in anything else that I work hard for. That's the beauty about a Randolph-Macon education - you learn how to think, analyze and solve any problem put before you."

The scholarship caps Hiltunen's list of impressive postseason awards, which includes being named Honorable Mention All-American, All-ODAC First-Team, and ODAC All-Tournament Team. She was named as a Jostens Award Finalist and the ODAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.

In the classroom, Hiltunen boasts a 3.82 grade point average while majoring in political science. She has been a member of the Randolph-Macon Dean's List each semester in Ashland, as well as a member of the ODAC's Academic Honor Roll. Hiltunen, who is a member of R-MC's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, was also named to the 2009 ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA First Team District 3 All-Academic Team earlier this year.

"Amanda's career is ending with numerous accolades, all of which are derived from an outstanding work ethic, commitment to excellence, and being surrounded by a great support system," said R-MC Head Coach Carroll LaHaye. "We are extremely proud of Amanda and all she has accomplished. Being selected as an NCAA Post Grad scholarship recipient from the many other DIII athletes is a significant feat as a student-athlete."

On the court, Hiltunen captained R-MC to a 23-6 record and its third ODAC championship in four years. She emerged as one of the top guards in the nation this season. The senior ranked second in the country and first in the ODAC with a 90.6 free throw percentage. Her 4.9 assists per game ranked second in the ODAC, while her 1.7 assist to turnover ratio placed her fourth in the ODAC. She proved to be one of the best shooters in conference as well, connecting on 50.4% of her shots from the floor (fourth in the ODAC) and 40.9% from behind the arc (second in the ODAC). On the defensive end, Hiltunen averaged 2.59 steals per game, ranking fourth in the conference. Her 31.9 minutes per game and 13.6 points per game ranked in the ODAC top 10 as well.

This release is courtesy of the NCAA and the Randolph-Macon College sports information department.