Each year, a deserving Illinois State gymnast student-athlete is selected for a prestigious endowed scholarship at Illinois State University, and this year, Junior standout Alyssa Wiggle was chosen for this honor by Redbird head gymnastics coach Bob Conkling.
"Rob and Nancy Northrip have continually supported the ISU Gymnastics team throughout the past 10 years. Besides the Northrip Endowed Scholarship, they have helped us with some of our other needs including donating to our fundraiser for our trip to Alaska this year. We have had many qualified recipients of the Northrip Scholarship throughout the years including this year recipient, Alyssa Wiggle. Alyssa (or Wiggle which she is called by the team) is the perfect fit for the Northrip Scholarship being a Mid-Level Education Major, an excellent student and a great teammate that always works hard at not only contributing to our athletic success, but by always supporting her teammates."
"I am truly honored to receive the Northrip scholarship" Wiggle expressed. "It means everything to me to have such amazing people that support the ISU gymnastics team. I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Northrip, my coaches, and my teammates for this amazing opportunity. This would not have been possible without you all."
Rob & Nancy Northrip Endowed Scholarship Recipient // Alyssa Wiggle - Junior – Dearborn, Michigan
Wiggle has been a standout gymnast and student at Illinois State. Wiggle walked on to the team in the Fall of 2016, after contributing to the team's success during her Freshman and Sophomore year, Wiggle earned a full athletic scholarship that started this season. She has earned scholastic All-American Honors from the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics coaches for Women as well as Midwest Independent Conference Academic All-Conference.
This season, Wiggle has earned a career high on vault, 9.7000 placing second against Southeast Missouri State (Jan. 25) and on beam against Alaska scoring a 9.8000 and placing second (Jan. 4).
She currently maintains a 3.81 cumulative grade-point average as a middle level education major, with aspirations to teach English Language Arts and Science.
The Northrip scholarship was established in 2009 by Nancy and Rob Northrip for female student-athletes majoring in education, with a preference for female gymnasts. Nancy lettered in gymnastics for the Redbirds and Rob was a Redbird cheerleader. The scholarship is awarded annually to a Junior female student-athlete.
This endowed scholarship is one of 30 available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. For more information about establishing or contributing an endowed scholarship, please call the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund office at (309) 438-3803. To read about each current endowment in more detail, visit the WSF website at www.weisbeckerscholarshipfund.com.
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