INDIANAPOLIS – Blake Hayes of the University of Illinois and Gianna Glatz of Rutgers University have been selected as this year’s Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award recipients. All 14 member institutions were asked to nominate one female and one male student-athlete for the 2022 school year. The two students selected were each awarded a $10,000 scholarship for their achievements in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and leadership.
In recognition of the Big Ten Conference's leadership in fully integrating athletics into the academic mission of its member institutions, the Indianapolis Big Ten Community Partnership initiated the Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award in 2008. During the past 15 years, the award has contributed nearly $210,000 in scholarships.
The award is made possible by donations from local corporations and individuals supporting intercollegiate athletics. The Indianapolis Big Ten Community Partnership is comprised of the State of Indiana, City of Indianapolis, Indiana Sports Corp, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, and Visit Indy.
Glatz is a two-time captain and four-year member of the Rutgers field hockey team and a four-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. On the field, Glatz has earned several awards including being a three-time All-American and Big Ten Co-Player of the Year. She led the Rutgers women's field hockey team to the program’s first-ever Big Ten Tournament title and was the female recipient of Rutgers’ 2021 Big Ten Medal of Honor. Glatz was also a member of the USA Field Hockey U21/U22 Women’s National Team, which won bronze at the Junior Pan American Championships and qualified the team for the Junior World Cup.
In addition to her accomplishments on the field, Glatz graduated with a 3.909 grade-point average, majoring in psychology with a minor in education as a social science. She continues her academic excellence maintaining a 4.0 GPA in the Rutgers Graduate School of Education on her way to a master's degree in education. Glatz was also recognized for her academic achievements as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient, three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, National College Athlete Honor Society.
Along with her work on the field and in the classroom, Glatz served as the president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years, a leadership committee organized to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. Glatz is very active in her community, volunteering with Soles4Souls, Somerset Community Action Program, and Give Kids the World.
After finishing her master's degree program, Glatz plans to pursue a career in education. Glatz is the second consecutive, and fourth overall, Scarlet Knight student-athlete to receive the Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award, following Kieran Mullins of the Rutgers men's lacrosse team (2021).
Hayes is a five-year starter and three-year captain of the Illinois football team. He maintained a 3.75 GPA while earning a Bachelor of Science degree in kinesiology and currently holds a 3.84 GPA on his way to a master's degree in public health. Hayes was a Senior CLASS All-American finalist, Campbell Trophy semifinalist, and was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team.
Hayes is also a standout in the classroom as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten recipient, 2020 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and a member of the Dean's List. Hayes is also a four-year representative on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) for the football team as well as a student-athlete co-founder of International Illini, a program that connects all international student-athletes for community and fellowship at Illinois University.
In addition to his work on the field and in the classroom, Hayes is also active in many community outreach programs, including the Robert Connor Dawes Foundation, Fighting Illini Kid's Reading Program, Holiday Toy Drive, and Lift for Life Summer Fundraiser.
Hayes plans to attend medical school after acquiring his master's degree. He is the first Illinois student-athlete to receive the award in its 15-year history.
“Indiana Sports Corp is humbled to have the opportunity to present the Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award to these outstanding student-athletes,” said Indiana Sports Corp President Ryan Vaughn. “Both of the honorees have demonstrated impressive leadership skills, academic and athletic performance, and serve as role models for their communities.”
The Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award is named for the late Big Ten Conference commissioner who served from 1971 to 1989. While leading the conference, Duke spent much of his time working to improve academic standards and graduation rates for students competing in conference athletics.
2021 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Nominees:
University of Illinois: Blake Hayes, Football; Megan Cooney, Women's Volleyball
Indiana University: Brandon Hamblin, Men’s Swimming & Diving; Nichole Flowers, Women’s Track & Field
University of Iowa: Madeleine Murphy, Women's Field Hockey
University of Maryland: Justin Gielen, Men's Soccer
University of Michigan: Sydney Shepherd, Women's Soccer
Michigan State University: Carson Gates, Men's Tennis
University of Minnesota: Alexyss Ramler, Women's Gymnastics
University of Nebraska: Mark Freyhof, Men's Cross Country; Kirsten Baete, Women's Golf
Northwestern University: Samuel Gerak, Football; Labonita Ghose, Women's Diving
Ohio State University: Shanvanth Arnipalli, Men's Fencing; Hannah Gruensfelder, Women's Volleyball
Penn State University: Keegan Ness, Men's Soccer; Madison Smith, Women's Track & Field
Purdue University: Benjamin Bramley, Men’s Swimming and Diving; Emma Terwilliger, Women's Volleyball
Rutgers University: William Taylor, Football; Gianna Glatz, Women's Field Hockey
University of Wisconsin: Garrett Model, Wrestling; Armoni Brown, Women's Track & Field
Previous Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Recipients:
2021: Kieran Mullins, Rutgers, Men's Lacrosse & Lea Mitchell, Michigan State, Women's Gymnastics
2020: Scott Piper, Michigan State, Men’s Swimming & Diving; Sade Olatoye, Ohio State, Women’s Track & Field
2019: Anton Stephenson, Nebraska, Men’s Gymnastics; Olivia Rosendahl, Northwestern, Women’s Swimming & Diving
2018: Chris Weber, Nebraska, Football; Emily Mills, Rutgers, Women’s Golf
2017: Geno Morelli, Penn State, Wrestling; Lindsay Agnew, Ohio State, Women’s Soccer
2016: Cody Rush, Nebraska, Men’s Track and Field; Lindsay Mable, Minnesota, Women’s Gymnastics
2015: Campbell Sode, Rutgers, Men’s Lacrosse; Jessica Plant, Minnesota, Women’s Swimming & Diving
2014: Spencer Long, Nebraska, Football; Emily Wong, Nebraska, Women’s Gymnastics
2013: Sean Fisher, Nebraska, Football; Katelyn White, Nebraska, Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field
2012: Miguel Pineda, Penn State, Men’s Gymnastics; Margaux Farrell, Indiana, Women’s Swimming & Diving
2011: Mike Torchia, Minnesota, Men’s Cross Country and Track & Field; Allie Smith, Purdue, Women’s Swimming & Diving
2010: Mark Ison, Northwestern, Football; Chelsea Davis, Ohio State, Women’s Swimming & Diving
2009: Drew Ratner, Northwestern, Men’s Soccer; Lauren Mioton, Purdue, Women’s Basketball
2008: Kevin Trulock, Indiana, Football; Molly Crispell, Penn State, Women’s Swimming & Diving
###
About the Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has sustained a comprehensive set of shared practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students competing in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values of integrity, fairness and competitiveness. The broad-based programs of the 14 Big Ten institutions will provide over $200 million in direct financial support to more than 9,500 students for more than 11,000 participation opportunities on 350 teams in 42 different sports. The Big Ten sponsors 28 official conference sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, including the addition of men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s lacrosse since 2013. For more information, visit BigTen.org.
About Indiana Sports Corp
Founded in 1979 as the nation’s first sports commission, Indiana Sports Corp is a not-for-profit organization focused on bringing premier sporting events to Indiana to drive economic vitality, facilitate a vibrant community with civic pride and garner positive media attention. Because of this, Indiana Sports Corp is able to provide positive, sports-related opportunities for youth in the community. For more information, please visit IndianaSportsCorp.org.