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DePaul's Hollembeak Awarded BIG EAST Grant
Jill Hollembeak, Assistant Director of Athletics Academic Advising at DePaul, was recently named one of eight grant recipients as part of the BIG EAST Professional Development Grant for Women and Ethnic Minorities program. The program provides funds

CHICAGO - Jill Hollembeak, Assistant Director of Athletics Academic Advising at DePaul, was recently named one of eight grant recipients as part of the BIG EAST Professional Development Grant for Women and Ethnic Minorities program. The program provides funds for professional development to the league's coaches and administrators. The program is in its fourth year of existence, and provided two coaches and six administrators with a total of $12,000 in aid.

The purpose of this grant program, which was developed by the BIG EAST's Senior Woman Administrators (SWAs) in conjunction with league officials, is to provide financial support for the various professional development opportunities for women and ethnic minority coaches and administrators who work at a BIG EAST Conference member institution. The BIG EAST will continue to allocate and distribute money for this program on an annual basis.

"This unique initiative continues to underscore and illustrate the BIG EAST Conference's commitment to diversity -- a point our 16 senior woman administrators feel is important to emphasize in a tangible way," said Associate Commissioner Donna DeMarco, who works directly with the league's SWAs. "Now that this has become an annual occurrence, we are able to provide rewarding professional development opportunities within all levels of our member institution athletic departments."


The eight award winners successfully completed the nomination and application process that included a required personal statement, which gave the applicant the ability to articulate reasons for interest in a particular professional growth opportunity. There were more applications for aid this year than ever before.


Among the seminars, programs, conferences and workshops that this year's recipients will be attending include the NCAA Women's Coaching Academy, NSCAA Permier National Coaching Course, Athletic Business Conference & Expo, Association of Luxury Suite Directors Convention, NACWAA HERS Convention, Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, NACWAA Leadership Enhancement Institute and the Black Coaches Association Convention & Expo.

Hollembeak will be attending the NACWAA HERS Convention and is in her fifth year at DePaul.

"I am truly excited and honored to receive this grant," said Hollembeak. "I am also grateful to DePaul and the Big East for their support and consideration."

"This is the fourth award for professional development we have been granted by the BIG EAST and we see it as extremely valuable," said DePaul Associate Athletics Director Kathryn Statz. "Jill is our second staff member to receive the benefit of attending the NACWAA HERS program and we are pleased that she will have this experience to add to her already amazing repertoire of skills."