July 8, 2009

Isabel Madeira and Bryan Mullins of Southern Illinois University have been named 2009 Missouri Valley Conference female and male postgraduate scholarship "Emerson Excellence Award" winners, respectively, commissioner Doug Elgin has announced. The Missouri Valley Conference Faculty Athletics Representatives Committee voted to award postgraduate scholarships to both Madeira and Mullins, due to their exemplary academic and athletic performances. Both student-athletes will receive a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship from the Conference.

 Madeira, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, achieved a cumulative 3.94 grade point average pursuing a double-major of economics and finance. A three-time Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete selection, she was a member of the MVC Honor Roll from 2005-2009, twice awarded the Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award, and selected as a 2009 MVC President's Council Academic Award recipient. A 2006-2008 Saluki Scholar, she was also on the SIU Academic Dean's List every semester. Madeira concluded her undergraduate studies by winning the 2009 SIU Outstanding Achievement Award in Economics.

A Saluki swimmer, was on the squad for four years and served for two as team captain. A MVC All-Conference first team honoree all four years, she was a 13-time league champion in a total of five different events. At the 2009 MVC Championship, she was a member of recordbreaking SIU relay teams. Madeira's winning 400-yard and 200-yard freestyle relay teams broke the pool and championship records. Additionally, she was selected as MVC Swimmer of the Week on three occasions.

 Madeira's community service activities included a role in Adopt-a-Student, Santa's Shoe Box, and Kid's Night Out programs at SIU. She was also the SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) swimming and diving team representative and participated in the State Farm/Missouri Valley Conference "Just Read" program. She will be attending DePaul University College of Law in the fall to pursue her postgraduate degree.

 Mullins, a native of Downers Grove, Illinois, graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor's degree in finance and a perfect cumulative 4.0 grade point average. He was awarded spots on the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Teams three times, earning first-team honors twice. Mullins also received recognition as the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week and garnered the prestigious 2009 MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. Mullins was a two-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, awarded second-team honors in 2008 and recently named to the 2009 first team. Included on the SIU Academic Dean's List every semester enrolled, Mullins was also named to the Missouri Valley Conference Honor Roll from 2006-2009, and the Commissioner's Academic Excellence list in 2007, 2008, and 2009. In 2009, he was recognized with the league's highest academic achievement earning the Missouri Valley Conference President's Council Academic Award.

 A guard on SIU's men's basketball team, he helped lead the Salukis to two NCAA Tournament appearances (2007 Sweet Sixteen), one NIT appearance, and two Missouri Valley Conference Championships. Despite being sidelined for the 2007-2008 postseason and the majority of 2008-2009 conference play with injuries, Mullins became the second player in league history to record 500 career assists and 250 career steals. Earning the MVC Freshman of the Year honors in 2007, he went on to back-to-back MVC Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2008 and 2009. Mullins was also named as the 2009 SIU team captain and MVP.

 Mullins was a member of SIU's SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee) and participated in the State Farm/Missouri Valley Conference "Just Read" program, visiting local schools and reading to children. He also assisted with the SIU Halloween Bash, Saluki Holiday Basketball Clinic and volunteered his time at various other local area charities. He plans on pursuing his MBA at Southern Illinois University in the fall.

 To be eligible for consideration, recipients must have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.00, participated with distinction in a Missouri Valley Conference championship sport for at least two seasons at the nominating institution and must graduate from their institutions within 18 months following selection at the spring meetings of the Faculty Athletics Representative Committee.

 Also, the recipients must be accepted for postgraduate studies at an institution of higher learning at the time of receipt of the scholarship. And, the recipients must have completed eligibility for participation in intercollegiate athletics in the academic year in which nominated.