Posted: May 2, 2005

Athletics: Matt Gunn Receives NCAA’s Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior track athlete Matt Gunn earned one of the NCAA’s highest honors when he was selected as this year’s Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship recipient, as announced by the NCAA office. The prestigious scholarship is given to one of the nation’s top male and female student-athletes, based on academics, leadership and athletic achievements. Gunn will be awarded with a renewable $21,500 scholarship to the graduate school of his choice and he is the first UA athlete to be given the scholarship.

“It couldn’t go to a more deserving kid,” Arkansas head coach John McDonnell said. “He’s a very hard worker and has improved tremendously while he’s been at Arkansas. Everyone on the team likes him and his academics speak for themselves.”

Gunn, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, is an international relations and European studies double major and boasts a 3.83 cumulative GPA. He was recently accepted into Columbia Law School’s Class of 2008 Early Decision Plan. Gunn was one of 8,500 applicants to the highly competitive program that only accepts 360 students. Gunn is a senior in classification and will forgo his final year of athletic eligibility to move to New York, N.Y. and begin classes in the fall of 2005.

“I was incredibly excited when I found out I got the scholarship,” Gunn said. “Columbia is very expensive, but I knew it’s where I wanted to go, so this will be a tremendous help. Going to law school there is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and this is helping make that dream come true. It’s a testament to Coach McDonnell and the program he has built. He can push us both athletically and academically, and we can excel in both.”

In addition to Columbia he applied to Southern Cal, Fordham, Boston College, Penn, UCLA, Cornell, Virginia, Georgetown, Notre Dame, but Columbia was his first choice and he withdrew all his other considerations upon learning about his early acceptance.

The undergraduate chair of the International Law Society at UA, Gunn has also served as a speaker for the Arkansas Athletes Outreach Champions of Character Program.

Gunn transferred to Arkansas from Clemson as a walk-on in 2002. Through his hard work and dedication he became an excellent athlete and team leader. He is a three-time All-Southeastern Conference distance runner and competed at the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships, helping Arkansas claim third place.

Established in 1988, the Walter Byers Scholarships recognize the contributions of former NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers and was developed to encourage excellence in academic performance by student-athletes. A Byers Scholar is recognized as an individual who has combined the best elements of mind and body to achieve national distinction for his or her achievements, and who promises to be a future leader in his or her chosen field.