Ashland's Brown, Michigan Tech's Kulas Named GLIAC Pat Riepma Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients

Posted: May 08, 2017

BAY CITY, Mich. – Ashland University women's soccer defender Jessica Brown and Michigan Tech cross country runner Daniel Kulas have been named the recipients of the 2016-17 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Pat Riepma Postgraduate Scholarship. The honor, which awards each recipient, one male and one female, $5,000 in aid to the graduate school of their choice, was voted on by the Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) of the GLIAC member institutions.

Jessica Brown | Ashland University

Through the 2016 fall semester, Ashland women's soccer defender Jessica Brown amassed a 3.98 cumulative grade-point average as an Exercise Science major. On the field in 2016, Brown had a goal and an assist in 17 games, and was the veteran leader of a defense which allowed just 16 goals.

Brown’s senior-season awards included College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Division II Academic All-America second team and CoSIDA Academic All-District, All-GLIAC honorable mention, GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team (cumulative GPA of 3.50-4.00) and first-team Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association (OCSA) NCAA Division II/NAIA Academic All-Ohio.

In 73 career games as an Eagle, Brown posted a goal and five assists. She was named All-GLIAC second team as a junior, is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and earned a spot on the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team three times.

Daniel Kulas | Michigan Technological University

Daniel Kulas, a Chemical Engineering major from Iron Mountain, Michigan, has had an outstanding career for Michigan Tech both on the track and in the classroom. Kulas logged a career best time of 15:07.55 in the 5000 Meter Run earlier this spring at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Invitational. He was fifth in the 5000 at the Augustana College Vikings Olympics, his highest finish in that event this spring.

During the course of his career, Kulas won three individual event championships including the 3000 Meter Run in the Northern Challenge in January of 2016. Kulas claimed a pair of first place 8k cross country finishes at the UW-Parkside Midwest Open in 2015 and the UW-Parkside Lucian Rosa Invitational in 2014.

Kulas is a five time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree while being named a Superior Athlete of the Week three times. He serves on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee where he helped organize a Toys for Tots fundraiser surrounding a Michigan Tech hockey game. Kulas owns a 3.95 GPA and will pursue his graduate degree at Michigan Tech as well.

The GLIAC Postgraduate Scholarship is being named after former Northwood University Athletic Director and head football coach Pat Riepma who passed away last July after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Pat spent over 21 years at Northwood and was the all-time winningest coach in football history as well as the long time Athletic Director. While his achievements on the field and on behalf of the athletic department are impressive, Pat will be forever remembered for the person he was. Pat was a passionate, spiritual man who inspired thousands of people even before he became sick. While Pat is gone, his mantra of “Go MAD”- Go Make a Difference, will live on.