Piper Awarded Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship
2/13/2020 12:07:00 PM | Swimming and Diving
Complete Big Ten Release
EAST LANSING, Mich. -Â Michigan State swimming and diving senior Scott Piper was named one of two recipients of the Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship. Piper is the first student-athlete to receive this award in both program and school history.
The Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship is named for the former Big Ten Conference commissioner, who served from 1971-89, and spent his time working to improve academic standards and graduation rates for students competing in intercollegiate athletics.
The Wayne Duke recipients were selected based on academic merit. The one-time, non-renewable financial award is funded directly to the recipient's postgraduate institution upon verification of enrollment.
"It's really cool to be, not only the first athlete from Michigan State to win it, but the first men's swimmer to ever win it and to represent the university and the sport overall is an amazing opportunity," said Piper. "I'm also very thankful for just being in an environment at Michigan State where I can have the freedom to pursue my interests and excel in and out of the pool with the access to so many different opportunities. It's great to have academic and athletic faculties that are flexible allowing us to follow our passions and where those take us."
A native of Naperville, Ill., Piper is a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten selection, Scholastic All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-America honor. He is also the Vice President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and the serves as the SAAC representative on the Associated Students of Michigan State University (ASMSU) board.
The biosystems engineering major spent numerous semesters on Dr. Jonathan Hardy's undergraduate research team in the microbiology department at Michigan State. He also interned with Orchid Orthopedic Solutions in Holt, Mich. Looking ahead at his postgraduate future, Piper is currently deciding between multiple Master of Science (MS) or Master of Engineering (MEng) programs for Biomedical Engineering.
"I'm really proud of his accomplishment," said head coach Matt Gianiodis. "When he decided to come to Michigan State, he really wanted to make a difference in this program which he did. I think that's an embodiment of the fact that when we recruit kids we say you can be great at everything which he clearly has been."
A multi-event swimmer for the Spartans, Piper competes in the individual medley, backstroke, and butterfly events. He currently holds the varsity records in the 200 butterfly, 1:45.35, and the 200 IM, 1:46.42, both of which he set in 2019. Piper also qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials at the 2018 USA Winter Nationals in 200 IM.
Players Mentioned
