Three Northwest Indiana high school basketball seniors were part of a group of 36 to have been presented 2014 scholarship awards from the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA).
The IBCA -- a statewide coaches group with more than 2,600 members -- presents grants of $750 to each recipient in the names of Marion Crawley, Junior Mannies and Pat Aikman. Through the years, the IBCA has awarded more than $572,000 in scholarships to Indiana students.
Frank Podkul of Andrean and Katija Tarailo of Crown Point were among 31 players (10 boys, 17 girls) honored with the Marion Crawley Award, which recognizes achievement in basketball and academics, participation in extracurricular activities and service to one's school and community. Crawley was a former four-time boys basketball state championship coach -- two with the Washington Hatchets and two with the Lafayette Jeff Bronchos -- who amassed 644 career wins. He later became the first executive director of the IBCA.
Daisy Heath of Hebron High School was one of four statewide winners of the Pat Aikman Awards, which recognize character and leadership. The award is named for the former Indiana All-Star game director and former IBCA Coordinator of Special Projects. Criteria for the Aikman Scholarship includes achievements and contributions in basketball, scholastic achievement, extra-curricular activities, and service to school and community. Also, those considered for the Aikman Scholarship are students who plan to enter the fields of journalism, sports management, athletic training or physical therapy.
"These are deserving young people who help make coaching a great profession," IBCA executive director Steve Witty wrote in a press release Tuesday.