Michigan State University Athletics
Lea Mitchell Earns Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship
2/18/2021 3:35:00 PM | General, Women's Gymnastics
Spartan gymnast becomes MSU’s first female student-athlete and only second overall to earn prestigious Big Ten honor.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State gymnast Lea Mitchell was named one of two recipients of the Big Ten Conference Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award. Mitchell is the first MSU female student-athlete to receive this honor, and only the second overall, after men's swimmer Scott Piper earned the award last year.
The Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award is named for the late Big Ten Conference commissioner who served from 1971 to 1989. While leading the Big Ten, Duke spent much of his time working to improve academic standards and graduation rates for students competing in conference athletics.
"I'm completely honored and blessed to receive this prestigious award, and it means a lot to me knowing that I'm able to represent Michigan State but also the Big Ten Conference, and I couldn't be more excited," Mitchell said. "It's exciting to be the second student-athlete overall from Michigan State, but the first female because it's awesome to break those barriers and inspire other female athletes along the way, whether they're in college or even younger. So I'm happy, honored and proud that I was able to be the first one."
Mitchell joins Kieran Mullins of the Rutgers men's lacrosse team as this year's recipients.
Each recipient earns a $10,000 scholarship for their achievements in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities and leadership. All Big Ten institutions were asked to nominate one female and one male student-athlete for the 2020-21 school year.
In recognition of the Big Ten'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 14 years, the award has contributed nearly $190,000 in scholarships.
"We are so thrilled in hearing the announcement of Lea Mitchell as the recipient of the 2021 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship Award," MSU gymnastics head coach Mike Rowe said. "I am biased, but Lea is really the whole package! She excels in time-management, organizational skills, perseverance and every opportunity to achieve success. Her leadership, along with community outreach is exemplary, and she is known for sharing her methods with her teammates and others. She is a true Spartan through and through. On behalf of the Michigan State gymnastics program, congratulations Lea on this amazing achievement!"
Mitchell is a three-time captain and four-year member of the Michigan State gymnastics team and a 2020 first-team All-Big Ten selection. Mitchell maintains a 3.96 grade-point average, majoring in journalism with minors in broadcast journalism and sport journalism. In the gym, Mitchell has earned several awards, including the highest MSU point scorer and team MVP for the past three seasons, a Big Ten Gymnast to Watch, the school record for points as a freshman and MSU's Newcomer of the Year honor that same season.
In addition to her work in the gym, she is one of two representatives from the gymnastics team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a leadership committee organized to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. Mitchell is very active in her local community, volunteering with Teams for Toys, Children's Miracle Network, Special Olympics, Student-Athlete Food Drives and Spartan Buddies. Mitchell currently plans to continue her education, pursuing her postgraduate degree in journalism. She is currently a member of Big Ten Network's (BTN) Student U, where she has been able to gain various experiences within sports broadcasting at campus athletic events.
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.
Previous Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Recipients:
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 & 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/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/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
The Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award is named for the late Big Ten Conference commissioner who served from 1971 to 1989. While leading the Big Ten, Duke spent much of his time working to improve academic standards and graduation rates for students competing in conference athletics.
"I'm completely honored and blessed to receive this prestigious award, and it means a lot to me knowing that I'm able to represent Michigan State but also the Big Ten Conference, and I couldn't be more excited," Mitchell said. "It's exciting to be the second student-athlete overall from Michigan State, but the first female because it's awesome to break those barriers and inspire other female athletes along the way, whether they're in college or even younger. So I'm happy, honored and proud that I was able to be the first one."
Mitchell joins Kieran Mullins of the Rutgers men's lacrosse team as this year's recipients.
Each recipient earns a $10,000 scholarship for their achievements in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities and leadership. All Big Ten institutions were asked to nominate one female and one male student-athlete for the 2020-21 school year.
In recognition of the Big Ten'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 14 years, the award has contributed nearly $190,000 in scholarships.
"We are so thrilled in hearing the announcement of Lea Mitchell as the recipient of the 2021 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Scholarship Award," MSU gymnastics head coach Mike Rowe said. "I am biased, but Lea is really the whole package! She excels in time-management, organizational skills, perseverance and every opportunity to achieve success. Her leadership, along with community outreach is exemplary, and she is known for sharing her methods with her teammates and others. She is a true Spartan through and through. On behalf of the Michigan State gymnastics program, congratulations Lea on this amazing achievement!"
Mitchell is a three-time captain and four-year member of the Michigan State gymnastics team and a 2020 first-team All-Big Ten selection. Mitchell maintains a 3.96 grade-point average, majoring in journalism with minors in broadcast journalism and sport journalism. In the gym, Mitchell has earned several awards, including the highest MSU point scorer and team MVP for the past three seasons, a Big Ten Gymnast to Watch, the school record for points as a freshman and MSU's Newcomer of the Year honor that same season.
In addition to her work in the gym, she is one of two representatives from the gymnastics team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a leadership committee organized to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. Mitchell is very active in her local community, volunteering with Teams for Toys, Children's Miracle Network, Special Olympics, Student-Athlete Food Drives and Spartan Buddies. Mitchell currently plans to continue her education, pursuing her postgraduate degree in journalism. She is currently a member of Big Ten Network's (BTN) Student U, where she has been able to gain various experiences within sports broadcasting at campus athletic events.
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.
Previous Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Recipients:
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 & 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/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/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
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