COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Three graduating Maryland student-athletes and four former Terrapins were awarded M Club Rodman Postgraduate Scholarships in 2021. The M Club awards $5,000 scholarships each year to former student-athletes who are looking to continue their education post-graduation.
This year's senior recipients are Hunter Baxter (Wrestling), Cheyenne Jones (Track & Field), and Taylor Wilson (Softball). The four alumni recipients are Johannes Bergmann '19 (Men's Soccer), Sami Main '19 (Softball), Varun Ram '15 (Men's Basketball) and Monica Young '04 (Softball).
These former student-athletes have demonstrated excellence in athletics and academics during their time at the University of Maryland, received at least one varsity letter from the University of Maryland, have earned, or will earn by May 2021, a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, must not be an active member of a college athletics roster in the 2021-2022 academic year, and have applied to (or enrolled in) a graduate program in an accredited institution for the purpose of pursuing an advanced degree.
"The M Club exists to serve our student-athletes not just while they're in college, but long after graduation, and this postgraduate scholarship program is just one of the ways we carry out that mission," said Executive Director of the M Club and Director of Alumni Engagement Laura Chiriaco. " I want to thank our selection committee for their time and thoughtfulness throughout the process of selecting these winners from an exceptionally impressive pool of candidates this year. I'd also like to thank the Rodman family for making these scholarships possible through their generous support of the M Club."
"We are extremely excited about our 2021 group of Rodman Post-Graduate Scholarship recipients," said Selection Committee Chair Marjorie Baker. "What we loved about this year's group of applicants was that they not only are a true reflection of our M Club membership but that they embody the definition of what it means to be a Terp student-athlete. Like our M Club membership, our recipients include members from both male and female sports, different competitive seasons of sports, USA and international students, scholarship athletes and walk-ons, as well as both recent graduates and long-time alumni. Their essays spoke of the passion that they have for the University of Maryland, for their team, and also for being able to get out from under debt so that they can fully commit to the needs of others in their communities. We loved how so many of them wrote about how their time as a student-athlete shaped the person that they are today and the pathway for this next chapter of their lives as alumni. We wish them the very best of luck and feel fortunate to live our motto of "Athletes Helping Athletes" as we help them pursue their post-graduate goals."
Hunter Baxter, a Gibsonia, Pennsylvania native, will earn a degree in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. Baxter has always shown drive off the wrestling mat, most recently through the Gossett Fellows program, but also through the InTERPship, working alongside two Physician Assistants, a Director in Emergency Medical Services, and finally a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. Baxter has won the ICA Academic Achievement Award, the wrestling team's academic award, multiple Big-Ten All-Conference Academic Awards, and many Dean's List appearances. Baxter has also represented the wrestling team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), been a student-leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and is a member of Maryland Made's I.M.P.A.C.T. mentor program. On the mat, Baxter served as Maryland's primary starter at 141 pounds during his redshirt sophomore year in 2019-20, where he went on to win six matches and represented Maryland at the Big Ten Wrestling Championships. Baxter also picked up a win this past season as a redshirt junior on the wrestling team, earning a win against Michigan State in January.
"To me, receiving the Rodman Postgraduate Scholarship means that I will be able to further my education with less of a financial burden," said Baxter. "Not only does it put me in an elite class of recipients, but it also allows me to represent the M Club and the University of Maryland athletic department in the next level of education. I am beyond honored to have received the scholarship and look forward to my lifetime commitment to the M Club where I hope to eventually help future athletes as well!"
Cheyenne Jones, a Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina native will earn a degree in Business Management at the University of Maryland. In her senior year as a Terrapin, Jones was an active participant in the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as well as a Class of 2021 Gossett Fellow. Jones excels in the classroom as a member of the Smith Undergraduate Student Association (SUSA) and the Sports Business Society. She was named the Academic All-Big Ten team and aspires to work in collegiate sports administrations and operations.
"I am honored to receive this scholarship because it is another example of how my hard work over the past four years has paid off. Winning the scholarship is about more than money, it proves that my fellow former Terps feel that I represent our community well and trust that I will continue to do so," said Jones. "To be awarded the M Club Rodman Postgraduate scholarship is a great accomplishment. Maryland Athletics has taught me perseverance, leadership and passion. I plan to leverage these values as I earn my Masters degree in Sport Administration and work in an athletic department that will allow me to support my future athletes the way that Maryland has always supported me."
An inspiration on and off the diamond,
Taylor Wilson has shown what it truly means to be a Terp. With over 50 hits at the plate, and 40+ starts at first base, Wilson has been a force for Maryland on each side of the ball. Off the field, Wilson has been an incredible member of her community and school, having served as a Gossett Fellow, Maryland Made intern, SAAC Executive Board member, and currently sits on the Big Ten Conference Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Coalition student-athlete representative. Wilson will be completing her Masters of Sport Industry Management at Georgetown, along with interning with the Baltimore Ravens' Community Relations department.
"I am so honored to be a recipient of the Rodman Postgraduate Scholarship," said Wilson. "I am forever grateful for the M Club and the many former student-athletes who continue to invest in the future of Maryland Athletics by supporting current student-athletes, making it possible for us to achieve our dreams!
Johannes Bergmann started 61 matches over three years from 2017-to-19 for
Sasho Cirovski and the men's soccer program. The Erfurt, Germany native was one of the backbones of Maryland's 2018 National Championship team that did not give up a goal in the NCAA Tournament. Named a captain in 2019, Bergmann was a first team All-Big Ten selection and United Soccer Coaches All-Region pick, helping the Terps advance to the NCAA Tournament. One of Maryland's most respected leaders during his time with the program, Bergmann earned a degree in economics from Maryland. After briefly playing for Birmingham Legion in the United Soccer League, Bergmann recently retired from professional soccer and is now pursuing a masters degree in finance at the Goethe Business School in Frankfurt, Germany.
"It is an honor to be awarded with the M Club Rodman Post Grad Scholarship," Bergmann said. "I wanted to thank the whole coaching staff but especially Sasho, Kayley and April. I'm very grateful that the athletic department is giving me such a huge support for my grad school time. Maryland will always have a special place in my heart."
Sami Main pitched for Maryland softball from 2016-19. A native of Frederick, Md., Main appeared in over 50 games for the Terps, with more than 10 starts as a pitcher. In her senior season, Main finished second on the team in appearances (29), games started (10), complete games (3), innings pitched (87.1) and strikeouts (34). She ranked first on the team for total saves (3), and earned her first career shutout along with a career-high eight strikeouts in her final season. Main was also a Team Advocate for Team Impact during her time as a Terp. Main earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Kinesiology in 2019, and is in the process of pursuing her M.D. degree to become a physician.
"I'm elated and honored to receive this scholarship particularly because I am not a fresh graduate and I know how competitive the pool of applicants always is each year," said Main. "The path to becoming a physician is much less daunting because of my experiences at Maryland as a student-athlete and the unwavering support of Laura and the M Club. I am very excited for this opportunity, and when I begin practicing medicine, I also look forward to the opportunity to pay it forward to future generations of Terps. No words will truly express my gratitude properly so simply put, thank you!"
Varun Ram played for
Mark Turgeon and the Maryland men's basketball team from 2012 to 2016. A native of Clarksville, Md., Ram steadily climbed as a walk-on and helped lead Maryland to the Sweet Sixteen in 2015-16. On the court, he is best remembered for sealing Maryland's NCAA Tournament first round victory against Valporaiso when he forced the game-winning steal in the waning seconds. Ram also became Maryland's first male student-athlete to receive the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor in the Terrapins' first season in the new conference. Ram most recently made a direct impact on the community during the Covid-19 pandemic by partnering with "Connect for Covid," an organization which obtained donated smart devices that were provided to Covid patients at local hospitals to connect with family and friends. Ram is currently enrolled in the Stanford Graduate School of Business with an expected graduation date of 2023.
"I have immense gratitude for the M Club, my former coaches and teammates, and the greater Terp community. I can't overstate the impact that UMD Athletics has had on my growth as a person and future leader. I am honored to be a recipient of the Rodman M Club Postgraduate Scholarship and will strive to live up to those that have earned this distinction before me. As I head to Stanford, I will continue to wear my Terp colors with pride knowing that my experiences at UMD have prepared me for this next step of my life."
Monica (Cyphert) Young, a 2004 graduate from the University of Maryland, obtained a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. Young was a double threat in pitching and hitting from 2000-04 at Maryland, where she helped anchor the pitching staff. As a junior, in 2003, she put together a career year in the pitching circle and at the plate. She was the only Terp selected to the All-ACC First Team. She led the Terps in all statistical pitching categories and had an impressive .322 batting average with seven home runs. To finish out her senior year, Monica was selected to the 2004 ACC All Tournament Team. Young is receiving a scholarship to help her finish nursing school. She has an especially moving story. In 2018, she had an emergency C-Section to deliver her fourth child, and subsequently developed sepsis and a life-threatening flesh-eating bacteria in her abdomen. After being given a 2% chance of survival and undergoing months of surgeries, she's now recovering and wants to finish her nursing degree. The M Club will be covering her final classes with this scholarship.
"It is such an honor to be selected as the M Club Rodman Postgraduate Scholarship recipient," said Young. "The time I spent as a student-athlete has undoubtedly shaped me into the roles I hold now as a wife, mother, nurse, and trauma survivor. All the sacrifice, determination, and the "Never Give Up" attitude left on that softball field helped create the mental toughness engraved in me now. Seventeen years after graduation, the M Club graciously has awarded me with this scholarship opportunity to help further my nursing career. I can't thank them and the Rodman family enough. I promise I will continue to make my Terp family proud and hope one day I'll be able to pay it forward!"
The M Club Rodman Postgraduate Scholarship was established in 2006 with a $260K gift in the form of a life insurance policy for Leonard Rodman, a former Maryland Boxer and graduate of the class of 1943. Since his death, Rodman's endowment has allowed the M Club to award nearly $250,000 in postgraduate scholarship support to 46 Maryland student-athletes to continue their education. In 2012, Rodman was inducted into the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame posthumously for meritorious service in recognition of his lifelong commitment to Maryland student-athletes. Rodman's son, Roy, and grandson, Nolan, now continue his legacy of Athletes Helping Athletes through their ongoing generous support of the M Club and Maryland Athletics.
