Atkinson awarded NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship

Senior gymnast Mary Atkinson was named a recipient of the 2011 NCAA post-graduate scholarship in gymnastics, the NCAA announced today.

Atkinson, a senior on the Gym Devil squad, holds a 3.72 in bioscience at Arizona State and is a member of the prestigious Barrett Honors College. In addition to preparing to attend dental school in the fall, Atkinson participated in a joint initiative between the honors college and the world-renowned Mayo Clinic.

In addition to the NCAA scholarship, Atkinson was also named the Pac-10 Scholar Athlete of the Year for the sport of gymnastics.

In 2010, Atkinson finished ninth nationally on vault for Arizona State, earning All-American honors in the event. A consummate all-around gymnast, Atkinson led the Sun Devils in almost every event for the first half of the season before she was sidelined with a career-ending injury in February.

Atkinson is the second Sun Devil this season, in addition to soccer player Alexandra Elston, and the 10th ASU athlete in the last three years to receive an NCAA post-graduate scholarship for continuing education.