Two Emory University graduate students, Izzy Antanavicius and Madison Tiaffay, were chosen as the latest NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipients as announced by the NCAA via email Monday morning.
Antanavicius and Tiaffay are the most recent Eagles to be selected for the prestigious honor, which is a $10,000 scholarship that can be applied toward their current or future graduate degree programs and is annually bestowed upon student-athletes who excel academically and athletically while also serving as leaders in the community.
They join men's swimmer Sven Becker as NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipients for Emory University during the 2025-26 academic calendar and brings Emory's department total to 136 in its history. Furthermore, Antanavicius is first women's tennis player to be chosen for the scholarship since current Eagles head coach Bridget Disher in 2017-18 as well as the sixth overall in program history. Tiaffay is the 9th member from women's cross country and track & field, and the first since Gabrielle Stravach in 2017-18.
For Antanavicius, she recently capped off her tennis career with All-America recognition in both singles and doubles, ending her impressive Eagles run with four All-America honors. She was part of four NCAA tournament teams and led Emory to a pair of national semifinals, one quarterfinals and one regional final appearance. During her final two campaigns, Antanavicius shined on the NCAA stage as she reached the national quarterfinals in doubles and Round of 16 in singles as a senior after making quarterfinal runs in both disciplines as a junior. On the ITA circuit, Antanavicius captured the ITA South Regional singles crown this past fall and was a two-time finalist in addition to being named the ITA Atlantic South Regional Player to Watch in 2024 and the region's Most Improved Player this spring.
Away from the court, Antanavicius was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team earlier this month after carrying a 3.92 GPA while working to complete her degree in Human Health. She has worked countless hours a medical and emergency room volunteer as well as serving as the women's tennis team representative on the student-athlete advisory committee. She plans to continue her studies in medicial school next year.
Tiaffay enjoyed a standout career as a member of both the women's cross country and track & field programs, earning multiple All-Region and All-America honors while leading the women's cross country team to a regional championship this past fall. A three-time All-Region honoree in cross country as well as a seven-time All-Region selection on the track, Tiaffay's career was highlighted by her junior campaign where she earned All-America First Team status in the indoor mile by finishing fourth overall and was tabbed as the USTFCCCA South/Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year. She ends her Emory career ranking among the top 10 all-time in five different events and is a multi-time academic honoree for both the USTFCCCA and UAA.
An Interdisciplinary Studies major with a 3.99 GPA, Tiaffay plans to continue her education next year at the Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. She has spent time notably as a legislative intern for State Senator Elena Parent as well as an intern for Georgia State House Rep. Susie Greenberg to go along with countless hours served around the Emory community as part of the Young Democrats of Emory Executive Board, Emory Athlete Ally and Student Athlete Latin American Spanish Association.
