Chambana Sun

The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship award winners were announced by the league office on Wednesday, July 10. Fighting Illini women's tennis player Kate Duong and baseball player Connor Milton received the prestigious awards from the conference.

Throughout her career at Illinois, Duong was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors all three years she was eligible. A four-year letterwinner, the Cupertino, Calif., native earned 2023 NCAA Doubles All-American status while achieving a career record of 65-33 in doubles. In doubles action, Duong teamed up with Megan Heuser, and the duo earned an ITA national doubles ranking during Duong's junior and senior seasons, climbing as high as No. 7. Duong went 40-34 in singles across her four years at Illinois.

Milton, also a four-year letterwinner, appeared in 112 games for the Orange and Blue and had a breakout senior season that helped lead the Illini to a Big Ten championship. The Champaign native set career-best marks in every offensive category and captured his first Big Ten Player of the Week honor on April 22. Milton also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors all three years he was eligible.

Each Big Ten institution has developed its own on-campus selection process for awarding the scholarships. Student-athletes must have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point average (GPA), demonstrated leadership qualities, served as excellent role models, and intended to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree in a graduate program.

The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship will cover expenses related to postgraduate education including research and teaching activities, tuition, fees, room and board, required course-related supplies, and books. To retain the scholarship, recipients must be accepted into a full-time graduate degree program within three years from the fall semester after selection.

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