June 5, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's senior standout Rebecca Cunfer was awarded a postgraduate scholarship by the Atlantic 10, the conference announced today.

Twice named to the field hockey All-Conference team at goalkeeper, Cunfer garnered All-Championship team honors after leading Saint Joseph's to the final of the 2007 Atlantic 10 Championship. The all-time leader in wins (41) in Saint Joseph's history, Cunfer ranks second in program annals in shutouts with 17 and fifth in saves with 358. The Manheim, Pa., resident was named the Atlantic 10 Field Hockey Student-Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007, was a four-time member of the National Field Hockey Association's Academic Squad and a three-time (2005-07) Academic All-Conference selection.

An international relations major, Cunfer was named to the Saint Joseph's Dean's List seven times, was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In addition, she served as the university's Pep Band president in 2007-08, volunteered for Project Appalachia, was a member of the SJU Student Development Committee and studied at the University of Barcelona in the Spring of 2007.

Cunfer will enroll at American University in the fall, where she will pursue a Masters of Arts in International Peace & Conflict Resolution.

The Atlantic 10 Conference annually honors four student-athletes who excel in academics and athletics and are involved in extra-curricular activities. The recipients are required to use the scholarship toward postgraduate education expenses. This year's other recipients were Brad Byars (swimming and diving) and Elizabeth Fox (women's soccer) of Saint Louis and Jillian Quayle (volleyball) of Xavier.

Courtesy of the Atlantic 10