January - February 1999 | Vol. 10, No. 1

Applications for annual USRA scholarships are available to any USRA member currently accepted or enrolled in a college degree program as a full-time student. Since 1990, the USRA scholarship program has granted 27 awards totaling over $13,000 to aspiring student athletes.

The application deadline for the 1999 scholarships is June 15, 1999. Inquiries and requests for applications may be made be contacting the: USRA Scholarship Program, 1685 West Uintah Colorado Springs, CO 80904 -- Attn: Kevin Joyce, Director of Membership Services.
Tel: (719) 635-5396 ext. 123; Fax: (719) 635-0685

RB: PEOPLE & PLACES -- Feaster, Grasha and Gross named USRA Scholarship Winners!

Shannon Feaster

Shannon Feaster
(New York, N.Y.)

Don’t be disappointed if it takes Shannon Feaster a couple of days to return your e-mail message or phone call. She’s a tad busy these days. A May 1998 graduate of the well-respected Howard University, Feaster is now enrolled in Columbia University’s accelerated master’s degree program in Broadcast Journalism - ranked first in the nation.

Three-time member of the U.S. Junior National Racquetball Team, Feaster was named Female Junior Athlete of the Year in ‘94. Recently, Feaster earned a spot in the Sweet 16 at the ‘98 U.S. National Singles women’s open division. In her career, the former U.S. National High School Champion (‘94) has captured 14 national and world junior titles, combined.

Feaster, 22, has put a promising pro racquetball career on hold while finishing her graduate program at the Ivy League school. “Hopefully, I have not yet reached my racquetball peak,” she said. “This (attending Columbia) is the chance I must take right now and there are many, including family and sponsors, who hope and believe that my professional racquetball debut will soon come . . . perhaps after the master’s degree (concludes) in the summer of 1999. Only time and timing will tell.”

Kori Grasha

Kori Grasha
(Amherst, N.Y.)

Current two-time defending New York State women’s open champion Kori Grasha could have ditched racquetball for varsity playing time on a successful Canisius (N.Y.) College squad. She was an all-conference shortstop in high school. Fortunately for the racquetball world, the former two-time U.S. Junior National Team member stayed true to the court.

Majoring in elementary education at the Buffalo, N.Y., institution, Grasha, 21, has continued to maintain her racquetball abilities by playing and teaching on a regular basis. Grasha even earned her referee certification at a local AmPRO clinic. At the ‘98 U.S. National Intercollegiates, Grasha finished in the quarterfinals of the women’s No. 1 singles bracket. Grasha pointed to her father, Arthur Grasha, as her most influential sports figure. “He introduced me to the world of sports at a very young age,” she said of her father. “Since then, he has sacrificed countless hours practicing, coaching, traveling and supporting all of my athletic pursuits . . . Most importantly though, he taught me what the result of dedication is when striving to reach your goals.”

Sadie Gross

Sadie Gross
(Yankton, S.D.)

An accounting/pre-law major at the University of Memphis, Sadie Gross was nominated for Academic All-American due to her fourth-place ‘98 U.S. National Intercollegiates finish and a 3.8 grade point average. Gross was named Female Junior Athlete of the Year in 1996. A six-time World Juniors champ, the South Dakota native also earned six U.S. Junior National titles and three Canadian Junior crowns.

Trying to work her way through college, Gross is on schedule to graduate one semester early. “Memphis appeared to have everything that I was looking for, but mostly I wanted to continue to play racquetball,” Gross said. “Racquetball had always been a huge part of my life and I wanted to continue to play even after my college years.”

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