After finishing her last year of college and final soccer season, California State University, Stanislaus soccer player Karenee Demery was awarded the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship in New Orleans at the Faculty Athletics Representative Association Meeting and Symposium in mid November.

Demery was awarded $24,000 for her to pursue further education to become a surgeon. Demery received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry.

“It is such an honor to be the recipient of the Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship,” Demery said. “It will be a tremendous help in furthering my education. I am so blessed and extremely grateful.”

Demery was nominated for the Walter Byer Scholarship by Dr. John Mayer, the Chairman of the Theatre department at CSU Stanislaus as well as the Faculty Athletic Representative for the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).

“Karenee Demery is the single finest student-athlete that I have had the privilege of working with in my 15 years on campus,” Dr. Mayer said. “There are 1,100 schools in the NCAA, including Divisions I, II, and III, and Karenee won the Walter Byers Award, the top scholarship that the NCAA gives out.”

The Walter Byer scholarship is awarded every year to one male and female NCAA student athlete. This award began in 1988 and was given to graduating senior student athletes or enrolled graduate students at NCAA institutions.

The winners of this award must have a 3.5 grade point average or higher, must show leadership and great character and must be involved with athletics and community service.

Over the years, Demery has been given many awards including Division II Player of the Year and CSU Stanislaus’s All-Time leading scorer. Demery was also a four-time All-American forward on the soccer team.