May 27, 2009

NORMAL, Ill. - The Northrip Endowed Scholarship was established this year by Rob and Nancy Northrip and has been awarded to Illinois State junior gymnast Stacie Morris. The Northrip Scholarship will be awarded annually to a female student athlete with at least a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA).

ISU gymnastics coach Bob Conkling emphasized Morris' well-rounded ability to perform at a high level in both gymnastics and in the classroom.

"Stacie is well deserving because she is a strong overall student-athlete," said Conkling. "She is a very artistic and creative young lady. She is always the one to do extra things for her coaches, teammates and friends."

Morris is a junior at Illinois State and her hometown is Burke, Va. She is an all-around gymnast but most consistently competed on the balance beam. In 2008, Morris was selected to the all-conference academic and all-state academic teams, as well as being named to the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll both semesters. Morris is an exercise science major with a cumulative GPA of 3.54.

"I feel really honored to be the first recipient of this scholarship," said Morris. "For ISU gymnastics, it's all about the team and being a part of it is an amazing experience. I don't do it for myself; I do it for my team, my coaches and my university. Representing Illinois State is an honor in itself."

The Northrip's are the owners of Ultimate Gymnastics in Chicago. Both have held a lifelong interest in gymnastics and participated in athletics while attending Illinois State University. Nancy lettered in gymnastics for the Redbirds and Rob was a Redbird cheerleader.

The Northrip Endowed Scholarship is one of 23 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes that is funded by private donors.

For more information about supporting this, or any other Illinois State University endowment scholarships, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.