USD Physical Therapy Student Awarded Prestigious NCAA Scholarship
Ristau graduated from Northern State University with an undergraduate degree in biology in spring 2018, and the following fall she began her studies in USD’s graduate program of physical therapy.
Ristau, a native of Warner, South Dakota, earned the NCAA scholarship because of her remarkably accomplished athletic and academic career. Not only did Ristau earn Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Year honors following her senior year as a basketball player for the Wolves, she held a 4.0 grade point average for her entire academic career, including being named to the dean’s list every semester while she attended Northern State. In addition to being named an honorable mention All-American basketball player as a senior, she was also recognized three times as a member of the NSIC All-Academic team, and was selected as the NSIC female student-athlete of the year for the 2017-2018 school year.
Each year the NCAA awards 21 post-graduate scholarships to both female and male NCAA student –athletes who are continuing their academic work following completion of their undergraduate degrees.
“I was shocked and humbled to be named a recipient of this scholarship,” said Ristau.
