Hope College’s Boone Marois remembers hearing about the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program four years ago and aiming to be the type of student-athlete who could receive one.
Mission accomplished for the former track & field standout and recent Hope graduate from Traverse City, Michigan (Central HS).
Marois has been named one of 28 spring men’s NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients from across all NCAA member schools. He will receive a one-time, non-renewable grant of $7,500 that he will apply toward medical school at the University of Michigan.
“Receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship is both a relief and an honor,” Marois said. “The scholarship will help make medical school affordable for me and allow me to stay debt free through at least my first year of school.
“It is also an honor because it represents what I have strived for as a student-athlete. I first heard about the scholarship during my freshman year of college and thought to myself, ‘I want to be the type of student who is dedicated to his team, studies, and community.’ So, that is what I set off to do throughout my college career. I am happy to say that I believe I accomplished my goal to the best of my ability.”
Marois is the 22nd Hope student-athlete to receive a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and the fifth since 2014.
Marois graduated from Hope last May after majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology. He will begin medical school in the fall of 2017.
Marois believes his NCAA postgraduate scholarship is a representation of Hope College as an institution as well.
“Hope consistently has students who are awarded this scholarship. That says a lot about the coaches, professors and greater Hope community,” Marois said. “Hope is truly a place where you can become the best version of yourself. I am indebted to the institution that has done so much for me.”
Earlier this summer, Marois was named a College Sports Information Directors of America First Team Academic All-American and the recipient of both the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Albert L. Deal Male Scholar Award and Hope's Otto van der Velde All-Campus Award.
A four-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, Marois helped the Flying Dutchmen's 4x100-meter relay earn All-America honors with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Hope's 4x100 relay set school and MIAA records during the 2016 season.