PORTLAND, Ore. --- Portland Pilots women’s soccer senior defender Jessica Tsao has been named one of six finalists for the Byers Scholarship, announced by the NCAA. A male and a female recipient for the $24,000 renewable scholarship will be selected later this month.
The Byers Scholarships were established in 1988 and recognize the contributions of former NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Recipients must have a 3.5 grade-point average, demonstrate evidence of superior character and leadership, and show that participation in athletics has been a positive influence on their personal and intellectual development.
Tsao just concluded a much-decorated four-year career on The Bluff. A Rhodes Scholarship Finalist, Tsao was a first-team ESPN Academic All-American last fall and is an Alpha Lambda Delta honors society member. Other honors for the Portland native include being a Lowe’s Senior Class Award finalist, the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-WCC selection.
Tsao is a member of the U.S. U-23 Women’s National Soccer Team, and she was accepted into the graduate program at Cambridge University, where she will be pursuing a Ph.D. in clinical neuroscience.
2011 Byers Scholarship Finalists
David Gatz, Ohio Wesleyan, swimming and diving
Darius Law, Charlotte, track and field
Daniel Mazzaferro, Auburn, swimming and diving
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific, track and cross country
Jessica Tsao, Portland, soccer
Kelsey Ward, Drury, swimming and diving
