Duong, Milton Earn Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship award winners were announced by the league office on Wednesday (July 10). Fighting Illini women’s tennis’ Kate Duong and baseball’s Connor Milton received the prestigious awards from the conference.

Across her career at Illinois, Duong was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors all three years in which she was eligible. A four-year letterwinner, the Cupertino, Calif., native earned 2023 NCAA Doubles All-American status while racking up a career record of 65-33 on the doubles courts. In doubles action, Duong teamed up with Megan Heuser, and the duo earned an ITA national doubles ranking during Duong’s junior and senior seasons, climbing as high as No. 7. Duong went 40-34 on the singles courts across her four years at Illinois.

A four-year letterwinner, Milton appeared in 112 games in the Orange and Blue and had a breakout senior season to help lead the Illini to a Big Ten championship. The Champaign native set career-best marks in every offensive category and captured the first Big Ten Player of the Week honor of his career on April 22. Milton also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors all three years in which he was eligible.

Each Big Ten institution has developed its own on-campus selection process when awarding the scholarships. Student-athletes must have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point average (GPA), demonstrated leadership qualities, served as an excellent role model and intended to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree at a graduate degree program.

The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship will be used to pay expenses of the student’s postgraduate education to include such related activities as research and teaching, as well as other expenses such as tuition, fees, room and board, required course-related supplies and books. To retain the scholarship, the recipient must be accepted into a full-time graduate degree program within three years from the fall semester after selection.