Gatz a Finalist for NCAA’s Top Honor
David Gatz ’10. (Photo courtesy of OWU’s Office of Marketing and Communication)
David Gatz ’10 left big shoes to fill at Ohio Wesleyan when he graduated last spring. A Rhodes Scholarship finalist, an All-America and Academic All-America® athlete, and a citizen devoted to service, Gatz embodied the spirit of Ohio Wesleyan. He graduated with a 3.91 GPA and a triple major in pre-medicine, biochemistry, and pre-professional zoology.
Now, Gatz is one of three male finalists for a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Byers Scholarship, the NCAA’s highest award. The Byers Scholarship is a $24,000 renewable scholarship, granted to one male and one female recipient each year.
Gatz said the scholarship would be a great asset to him as he prepares to go to medical school. He is currently working for the Delaware County Health Department and doing clinical research at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. He plans to attend Johns Hopkins University in the fall.
“Like many medical schools these days, they do not provide much in the world of scholarship money, which makes a medical education a quarter-million-dollar investment for most,” Gatz said.
Athletics Director Roger Ingles said he doesn’t think an OWU student has ever been a finalist in a Byers Scholarship competition.
“It’s huge,” Ingles said.
Ingles said it’s an honor for Gatz to be a finalist in the competition. He said Gatz’s experience at Ohio Wesleyan was well-rounded and successful.
“He’s a great young man who can think big-picture,” Ingles said.
Gatz was also a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and started the Channeling Peace Initiative for Pakistan with classmate and teammate Usman Javaid ’10. He also helped coach the swim team last season.
“OWU is a place where people have the unique opportunity to do almost anything,” Ingles said. “David took advantage of every opportunity.”
Award recipients must have a 3.5 GPA or above, have competed in NCAA intercollegiate athletics, and have demonstrated leadership and personal development as a result of their involvement in sports.
Gatz will compete in a final interview this coming Monday before a committee of NCAA representatives from the different athletic divisions.