The Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced their two WCHA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients today, and both of the student-athletes have strong ties to Michigan.
Ohio State’s Becky Allis, a West Olive native, and Michigan Tech alum Brad Stebner are both receiving $7,500 grants from their former hockey conference to use for their postgraduate studies.
Allis, who holds a 3.6 cumulative grade-point average, played in 134 games for the Buckeyes as both a forward and defenseman. She won the WCHA Scholarship Athlete award in both 2013 and 2014, and was a Big Ten Medal of Honor nominee this season. She was on the dean’s list for nine terms from 2010-14 during her time in Columbus.
“I plan to attend a doctorate of physical therapy program after graduating, which consists of three more years of study,” Allis said in a release. “Physical therapy captured my interest because of its restorative properties; to restore an injured body to full function is a challenging but rewarding career. As a physical therapist, I can do much more than heal injuries; I can educate patients about their physical limitations, motivate them to improve their abilities and initiate lifestyle changes. Building relationships with patients as they progress through their rehabilitation gives me more time to be involved in their health and well-being.”
Stebner, a defenseman for the Huskies, recorded a 4.0 undergraduate grade-point average while majoring in biological studies and minoring in psychology during his time in Houghton.
“Hockey has been a life long dream of mine and the fact that it has given me and opportunity to pursue a great career and education is truly incredible,” said Stebner. “I intend on applying for Medical School and becoming a doctor. This summer I have scheduled to write the MCAT and will be applying for several different universities and their medical programs. This application will be for the 2015-16 academic year, which will also give me a season to pursue a year of pro hockey and gain the experience it entails. Although I have not decided yet on an exact specialization, but there are several fields that really interest me – including radiology, anesthesiology, and general family practice. I have always been fascinated by anatomy and the workings of the human body. Most importantly, I love helping others and want to make a difference. My love of athletics as well as academics pro- vides me with a unique opportunity to continue to work in a field that involves attributes I have gained through my experiences at Michigan Tech –including hard work, dedication, leadership and teamwork.”