USA Cycling awards two student-athletes with Stenner Scholarships

Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 11, 2007)—The USA Cycling Development Foundation has awarded the 2006 John Stenner Collegiate Scholarships to Rebecca Larson (University of Florida) and Todd Dowling (Bucknell University), USA Cycling announced today.  Both Larson and Dowling were recognized for their outstanding leadership qualities in their respective cycling communities and their major accomplishments during their student-athlete careers.

Each recipient receives a cash award made possible by generous donations to the USA Cycling Development Foundation in memory of John Stenner. 

Larson’s contributions to cycling and her involvement and performance in the sport made her an obvious choice to win the 2006 Stenner Scholarship.  Currently an Exercise Physiology graduate student in Gainesville, Larson is conducting research on exercise interventions for subjects with Multiple Sclerosis.  She has been a team leader for the University of Florida Cycling Team for several years and recently stepped up to the head coach position.  Larson has served as a mentor to new members through the creation of skills clinics while still maintaining her role as a successful competitive cyclist.

Larson is currently a USA Cycling category-1 competitor on the road and a category-2 rider on the track.  She won the time trial national title at the 1999 USA Cycling Junior National Championships and represented the U.S. at the world championships later that season.  In 2000, she captured the U23 road race national title.  In 2003, Larson won the individual pursuit and the sprint to capture the overall omnium title at the USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championships – a feat she repeated in 2006.  Also in 2006, she won a collegiate criterium title and was named to the U.S. National Team by USA Cycling.

Dowling is deeply involved in both the Bucknell University Cycling Team and the cycling community in general.  His contributions to the squad include recruitment efforts that grew the team from six riders to 27, and sponsorship sales that resulted in thousands of dollars of support. 
Besides Dowling’s involvement in competitive cycling, he is a well-rounded student with a 3.6 GPA as a senior Biology major.  Dowling is also heavily involved with university clubs and honors societies and tutoring efforts. He also works tirelessly to promote cycling in local media publications. 

Despite his many activities off the bike, Dowling has managed to mold himself from a beginner cyclist to a strong finisher in the men’s ‘A’ category in arguably most competitive collegiate cycling conference in the country – the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC).

In addition to the recognition of Larson and Dowling, USA Cycling also recognized several student-athletes with honorable mentions.  Those individuals include:

Lindsey Bishop (Syracuse University) is a top honor graduate student studying Literacy, president of the cycling club and ski club, and recipient of various academic awards.  She is a rising star in women’s cycling finishing second overall in the National Mountain Bike Series expert women’s category.  She was also the overall women’s ‘A’ mountain points leader for the ECCC in 2006.

Melanie Meyers (University of Arizona) is an undergraduate senior majoring in Geography with minor studies in Creative Writing and Spanish.  Meyers is an advocate for the sport of cycling by leading high school students on group rides in preparation for the Tour de Tucson charity ride, organizing an event to earn funding for Bicycle Inter-Community Action and Salvage, and serving as a multi-talented manager for the collegiate club.

Kacey Manderfield (Lees-McRae College) is a junior majoring in Sport Management.  Manderfield is a consistent top-five finisher as a USA Cycling category-2 road and track racer and serves as the Rochester Hills’ Bloomer Park Velodrome Marketing Manager.

Andrea M. Fisk (University of Portland) is a sophomore majoring in Psychology/Sociology with minor studies in both French and Biology.  Fisk is a podium finisher in multiple races at both the 2006 USA Cycling Elite and Collegiate Track National Championships.  She has reached a high level of competition while carrying a strenuous course load at the University of Portland and being involved with various extra-curricular and volunteer activities.

Briana L. Kovac (Indiana University) is a second-year graduate student at the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis. Kovac’s highlights began with the Little 500 bike race where she served as the Chair of Riders Council for the event and Captain of Teter Cycling.  She also set an individual time trial and team pursuit record and was named to the Little 500 Hall of Fame.  Kovac served as a team player by promoting a benefit for an injured cyclist that raised over $9,000 and became a Collegiate National Champion in the individual pursuit at the 2006 USA Cycling Collegiate Track National Championships.

Sabina Kraushaar (Fort Lewis College) is a sophomore studying Exercise Science and a Tom Danielson Cycling Scholarship recipient.  Kraushaar has volunteered her time in the summers to work at a children’s mountain bike camp in Durango, Colo. while being a top-five competitor during the collegiate season in the women’s ‘A’ category.
Caroline Jarolimek (University of Colorado) is a sophomore attending the University of Colorado-Boulder studying Integrative Psychology. Jarolimek is a versatile athlete finishing in the top 10 in all four events (DH, XC, STXC, and MX) at the 2006 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships.  She also devotes time to promote cycling to young females by staying involved with the “Take a Kid Biking Day” in Ft. Collins, Colo.

Matthew Spohn (Penn State) is a senior Economics major with minor studies in Criminal Law and Justice. While attending Penn State, Spohn was named to the Academic Dean’s List several times, awarded the Most Improved Rider Award in 2006, and served as the club’s sponsorship director.

Daniel Hock (Saint Michael’s College) is sophomore Political Science major and budgets his time between the Environmental Club, Cycling Club, Student Association, Peace and Justice Club, Student Global Aids Campaign, and Bike Recycle Vermont.  Despite being so involved, Hock has managed to mold himself into a semi-pro mountain biker and a category ‘A’ collegiate racer.

Kevin Rice (Northern Arizona University) is a sophomore studying Environmental Science while balancing his time working closely with the International Mountain Bicycling Association and volunteering with the Family Learning Center where he takes kids on weekly mountain bike rides.  Rice is a professional-level mountain biker and category-3 road racer with great finishes in 2006 including a ninth-place effort in the division 1 cross country race at the 2006 USA Cycling Collegiate Mountain Bike National Championships and a fifth-place result at the Mount Evans Hill Climb.

Jeremiah C. Bouchard (Fort Lewis College) is a junior Exercise Science major focusing on K-12 Education.  Bouchard believes in promoting cycling at a young age and proves it by riding with the Miller Middle School mountain bike team.  He’s also developed a partnership presentation regarding healthy nutrition and exercise that will be presented to the youth in the Four Corners region.

Olympian and former U.S. National Team member John Stenner, one of the founding fathers of organized collegiate cycling, spent his lifetime as a bicycle innovator and strove to elevate the quality of competition of the sport he loved.
 
Stenner, 29, died when he was struck by a pick-up truck while traveling home from work in May, 1994, near Mead, Colo. Following his death, donations to the family poured in, and a fund in his name was established. The John Stenner Collegiate Cycling Scholarship was subsequently established, and continues to be funded by the members/donors of the USA Cycling Development Foundation.
 
Stenner sought the best in everything he did on or off the bike. The John Stenner Collegiate Cycling Scholarship program recognizes athletes like John who strive for perfection and excellence throughout their lifetimes and in everything they set out to achieve.
 
About USA Cycling
Recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling promotes American cycling through its 60,000 members and 2,500 annual events. USA Cycling associations include the BMX Association (BMX), National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), U.S. Cycling Federation (road/track), the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the U.S. Professional Racing Organization (professional men’s road). For more information visit www.usacycling.org or contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867.