Brinkley named recipient of NCAA Career in Sports Scholarship

Maryland native focused on becoming a sports agent
@MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee women's basketball senior Janay Brinkley was named one of 13 recipients for the 2014 NCAA Ethnic Minority Enhancement Program Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics. Brinkley received a $7,500 award that will go toward her postgraduate education. Additionally, she attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis earlier this month.

Brinkley finished her undergraduate career at Middle Tennessee with a degree in sports administration. She posted a 3.32 GPA and was a member of the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll. Brinkley will be attending Georgetown University in Washington D.C. this fall. At Georgetown, she will enroll in the sports industry management program with a focus in becoming a sports agent.

"It is an honor to have this opportunity," said Brinkley. "I am thankful that President Sidney A. McPhee, Chris Massaro, Coach Rick Insell and Diane Turnham nominated me for this prestigious award. I am very blessed to continue my education."

The Pasadena, Maryland native played in 106 games for the Blue Raiders during her four-year career. She averaged 8.7 minutes and 1.3 points per game in her final season as a Blue Raider.

The Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics programs were developed by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.

The goal of the enhancement programs is to increase the pool of and opportunities for qualified minority and female candidates in intercollegiate athletics through postgraduate scholarships.

The NCAA awards $7,500 to 13 scholarships to ethnic minorities and 13 scholarships to female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies. The applicant must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or other program that will help the applicant obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics, such as athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or other career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics.

The NCAA Career in Sports Forum (CSF) is a four-day event which selected student-athletes and scholarship recipients explore and are educated on careers in sports, with a primary focus on intercollegiate athletics. CSF is provided to participants at no cost. The NCAA covered airfare, lodging and meals during the CSF. Through the use of dual tracks, participants examined the key functions of a coach or administrator within sports. Foundational skills such as communication, networking, recruiting, managing culture, transitioning and budgeting are covered with participants.