Gillcrease and McGuinness Named 2015 MAAC Victory Scholars
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announces Rider University’s Marritta Gillcrease and Niagara University’s Meghan McGuinness as the second recipients of the MAAC’s annual Victory Scholarship, in partnership with the Sport Changes Life Foundation.
Sport Changes Life (SCL), specializes in inspiring young people to excel to their highest level in personal, sporting and academic domains through a unique international scholarship program, the values of sporting excellence and community service.
Gillcrease, who will be attending National University of Ireland Galway, is a recent 2015 graduate of Rider University where she majored in Business Administration and was a member of the Rider women’s basketball program. She not only excelled on the court, but in the classroom as well. Gillcrease was a three time MAAC All-Academic recipient and finished her career as a Bronc averaging 3.1 points per game and totaled 132 blocks from the forward and center positions, placing her amongst the top 25 players in conference history in career blocks and blocks per game. In the 2014-15 season, the Pittsburgh, Pa. native was nominated for the Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams®.
In the fall of 2015, McGuinness will be attending Trinity College Dublin. She graduated from Niagara University, where she majored in Mathematics. McGuinness was a member of the Purple Eagles women’s basketball team and was a two time All-MAAC Second Team selection while being named to the 2011-12 All-MAAC Rookie Team. McGuiness was just as solid in the classroom and she was on the court as she was also honored for her academics. She was named to the MAAC All-Academic team three times in her collegiate studies, and finished ranked 11th overall in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage with 42.6% during this past season. Over the course of her collegiate career she averaged 10.3 points per game and finished with a total of 1,283 points which ranks her tenth on the career scoring list at Niagara. The Lincroft, N.J. native also holds Niagara's all-time career three-point record as well as the mark for all-time free throw percentage.
MAAC Commissioner Richard Ensor is excited to see the two female scholar-athletes represent the MAAC and their institutions as the 2015 Victory Scholarship recipients. “Jen Morabito’s successful experience in the first year of the Victory Scholar program is exciting and we are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Sport Changes Life Foundation,” said Ensor, “we believe Meghan and Marritta will be great representatives of the MAAC and will continue to build a strong foundation for MAAC student athletes and the relationship with the Sports Changes Life Foundation.”
As a part of their agreement with the MAAC, Sport Changes Life will provide this scholarship each year to MAAC scholar-athletes who wish to pursue advanced study in graduate programs at top universities in Ireland while contributing to community service programs for youth at risk as they continue to play their sport. The “MAAC Sport Changes Life Victory Scholars” will be trained to coach and mentor young people at risk in local communities gaining and sharing invaluable life experience, as well as progressing their academic and life goals.
CEO of Sport Change Life Gareth Maguire is delighted to welcome these two female scholar-athletes who will represent the MAAC and their institutions as the 2015 Victory Scholar recipients. “We are very excited to welcome both Meghan and Marritta who are clearly stand out student athletes. A Victory Scholar needs to be willing to help change lives through the sport that they love and at the same time care about others and help change their lives in a positive manner. We believe that both of these student athletes will be great for this program. Our partnership with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference started with Jen Morabito (Canisius College) gaining a place as the MAAC’s first Victory Scholar last year. Jen has been a shining example of a Victory Scholar and has paved the way for these two inspiring individuals coming into the program. We look forward to welcoming Meghan and Marritta to the Sport Changes Life family.”
This years Victory Scholars will be welcomed to the Victory Scholar Program by Sport Changes Life Chair of the Board, Brendan Wootten at a reception sponsored by Coca Cola and First Protocol Inc, in New York next week.