Franckowiak & Huang Earn B1G Postgraduate Scholarships
Jul 01 | General, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Gymnastics
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Rutgers' Zackary Franckowiak of men's lacrosse and Belle Huang of gymnastics have been named 2022 recipients of the Big Postgraduate Scholarship.
Each year, two student-athletes competing in intercollegiate athletics from each of the 14 Big Ten institutions planning to continue their education at a graduate degree program are each awarded a $7,500 scholarship. Students must have maintained at least a 3.2-grade point average, demonstrated leadership qualities, served as excellent role models and intend to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree in a graduate degree program.
Zackary Franckowiak has been a valued short-stick defensive midfielder for a five-season career with the Rutgers men's lacrosse program. Originally joining the program in 2016, when he was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team as a true freshman following a two-goal performance in the team's semifinal victory over Johns Hopkins. Following a two-season absence in 2017-2018 while serving on an LDS Mission in St. Petersburg, Russia, Franckowiak returned for four more seasons and helped lead the program to two NCAA Tournaments, with the program's first-ever Final Four and three NCAA Tournament victories overall. In 61 career games, the Draper, Utah native scored 11 goals with 12 assists for 23 points and had 114 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers.
Franckowiak is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a USILA Scholar All-American and a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national collegiate honor society. An Exercise Science major with a certificate in Population Health, Franckowiak will utilize his postgraduate scholarship to attend dental school at Creighton University.
Belle Huang was Rutgers gymnastics' first two-time American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award nominee, an annual award presented to the most outstanding collegiate senior female gymnast in the country widely considered the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics, in addition to being a 2021 NCAA Women of the Year nominee and a four-time NCAA Regional qualifier. Huang played a pivotal role in helping set numerous program records and top 10 team scores in 2022 including the squad's highest program score at a Big Ten Championship, highest score at a Big Five Meet and a program-high 196.400 on the road at NC State. The Scarlet Knight captain also captured a school-record 14 career 9.9 or higher marks on floor, including the second-highest score in program history with a 9.975 in a tri-meet with No. 1 Michigan and Alaska. A two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, she finished fourth in the all-around at the 2021 Big Ten Championships, recording a 9.9 on beam and a career-high 39.350 in the all-around en route to being named to the Big Ten All-Championship Team.
A four-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree and three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Huang was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, in the fall of 2020. She graduated with a bachelor's in biological sciences and is currently working towards her master's degree in microbial biology intending to become a physician's assistant.
All-Time Rutgers Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
2022 – Zackary Franckowiak (men's lacrosse) & Belle Huang (gymnastics)
2021 – Justin Davidovicz (football) & Sophia Catugno (rowing)
2020 – Kieran Mullins (men's lacrosse) & Rebecca Chanin (rowing)
2019 – Brian Shushkovsky (men's soccer) & Sarah Johanek (rowing)
2018 - Michael Rexrode (men's lacrosse) & Addison Walkowiak (women's swimming & diving)
2017 – Patrick McCabe (men's lacrosse) & Sarah Regn (field hockey)
2016 – Zack Sikora (men's lacrosse) & Maggie Morash (women's soccer)
2015 – Campbell Sode (men's lacrosse) & Greta Leberfinger (women's swimming & diving)
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
Each year, two student-athletes competing in intercollegiate athletics from each of the 14 Big Ten institutions planning to continue their education at a graduate degree program are each awarded a $7,500 scholarship. Students must have maintained at least a 3.2-grade point average, demonstrated leadership qualities, served as excellent role models and intend to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree in a graduate degree program.
Zackary Franckowiak has been a valued short-stick defensive midfielder for a five-season career with the Rutgers men's lacrosse program. Originally joining the program in 2016, when he was named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team as a true freshman following a two-goal performance in the team's semifinal victory over Johns Hopkins. Following a two-season absence in 2017-2018 while serving on an LDS Mission in St. Petersburg, Russia, Franckowiak returned for four more seasons and helped lead the program to two NCAA Tournaments, with the program's first-ever Final Four and three NCAA Tournament victories overall. In 61 career games, the Draper, Utah native scored 11 goals with 12 assists for 23 points and had 114 ground balls and 19 caused turnovers.
Franckowiak is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, a USILA Scholar All-American and a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national collegiate honor society. An Exercise Science major with a certificate in Population Health, Franckowiak will utilize his postgraduate scholarship to attend dental school at Creighton University.
Belle Huang was Rutgers gymnastics' first two-time American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award nominee, an annual award presented to the most outstanding collegiate senior female gymnast in the country widely considered the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics, in addition to being a 2021 NCAA Women of the Year nominee and a four-time NCAA Regional qualifier. Huang played a pivotal role in helping set numerous program records and top 10 team scores in 2022 including the squad's highest program score at a Big Ten Championship, highest score at a Big Five Meet and a program-high 196.400 on the road at NC State. The Scarlet Knight captain also captured a school-record 14 career 9.9 or higher marks on floor, including the second-highest score in program history with a 9.975 in a tri-meet with No. 1 Michigan and Alaska. A two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection, she finished fourth in the all-around at the 2021 Big Ten Championships, recording a 9.9 on beam and a career-high 39.350 in the all-around en route to being named to the Big Ten All-Championship Team.
A four-time Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Scholar All-American and Academic All-Big Ten honoree and three-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Huang was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, in the fall of 2020. She graduated with a bachelor's in biological sciences and is currently working towards her master's degree in microbial biology intending to become a physician's assistant.
All-Time Rutgers Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
2022 – Zackary Franckowiak (men's lacrosse) & Belle Huang (gymnastics)
2021 – Justin Davidovicz (football) & Sophia Catugno (rowing)
2020 – Kieran Mullins (men's lacrosse) & Rebecca Chanin (rowing)
2019 – Brian Shushkovsky (men's soccer) & Sarah Johanek (rowing)
2018 - Michael Rexrode (men's lacrosse) & Addison Walkowiak (women's swimming & diving)
2017 – Patrick McCabe (men's lacrosse) & Sarah Regn (field hockey)
2016 – Zack Sikora (men's lacrosse) & Maggie Morash (women's soccer)
2015 – Campbell Sode (men's lacrosse) & Greta Leberfinger (women's swimming & diving)
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest news and updates. Also visit ScarletKnights.com for additional information on Rutgers Athletics.
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