Former Valparaiso University women's soccer player Rita Craven has been named the female recipient of the Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award, as voted on by the League’s Faculty Athletics Representatives Committee. Green Bay's Rowan Isaaks received the award on the men's side.

“We are honored to recognize Rowan and Rita as our Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award winners,” said Horizon League Commissioner Jon LeCrone. “These students exemplify our values and they are the embodiment of our goal to support the college educational experience through sports. We are proud of their achievements and wish them the best as they pursue their graduate degrees.”

In its third year of inception, the Horizon League annually provides a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship apiece to a male and a female student-athlete from a Horizon League member institution to be used for graduate school expenses.

Craven graduated from Valparaiso with a 3.937 GPA while majoring in Biology and was a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American. She plans to attend Trevecca Nazarene University and become a physician’s assistant.

“I am so honored and thankful to have been chosen as the recipient for the Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship,” said Craven. "When thinking about how many other talented and well-qualified athletes there are in this league, I am humbled and reminded of the hard work that my coaches, teammates, parents, professors and others have done to help me achieve this. I am forever grateful for these amazing individuals that made my experience in the Horizon League, and more specifically at Valpo, nothing short of amazing.”

On the field for the Valparaiso women’s soccer team, Craven was a two-time First Team All-League honoree. In addition, she was named to the NSCAA Third-Team All-Great Lakes Region in 2015 and was on the Third Team All-America in 2014. Craven finished her career ninth in program history in goals, tied for fourth in assists and eighth in points.

“I am extremely excited for Rita being recognized by the Horizon League for her excellence not only on the pitch and in the classroom but also her efforts in our community,” said head women’s soccer coach John Marovich. “Our conference has a great deal of outstanding student athletes and for Miss Craven to be awarded this prestigious honor is something we are all extremely proud of and privileged to have been a part of her journey. I have spoken to her recently about the start of her Physician Assistant’s program and she is handling this new venture with the same energy and determination she attacked her Valpo Experience. The medical profession is getting one of the Horizon League and Valparaiso University’s best.”

To be eligible for the scholarship, student-athletes must meet criteria in four distinct categories - academics, athletics, service and leadership. The recipient must have an overall minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent, have competed with distinction as a member of a varsity sport, exhibited quality time working in the community/university in providing service to others, and demonstrated leadership qualities as a student at their institution and as a member of their intercollegiate program.