MOSCOW, Idaho – Former soccer student-athlete,
Kelly Dopke, continues to bring in the accolades and has been named one of the recipients of the 2018-19 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
"This was definitely really important," Dopke said. "I was shocked when I got the email in class. I was in disbelief that I actually won the scholarship. It's a big NCAA scholarship, and not many student-athletes get it. It was super humbling, after going through the process and the application and having it all pay off.
"And all these four years, where I thought that being a student-athlete might hinder me because I wouldn't be able to do other things that other medical school applicants might have done, it ended up being one of the biggest things that helped me. I'm just super excited that I got the opportunity to apply and that I ended up getting it. I'm just really excited. This will help me out along the way and makes me even more excited for my future."
The scholarship, worth $10,000, is awarded to former student-athletes based on academic and athletic success, as well as other factors including community service and standing within the institution. In all, 21 males and 21 females participating in fall sports are awarded the scholarship.
"This award is a major recognition of Ms. Dopke's accomplishments as a scholar-athlete," said Faculty Athletics Representative,
Brian Wolf. "She has clearly distinguished herself as an academic and as a leader. This distinction represents the excellence that is promoted within the UI athletic program."
Dopke will be using the funds to jumpstart her medical career. Although the full plan isn't lined up yet, she knows the next year will be a busy one.
"Following graduation in May, I'll be studying abroad in London," Dopke added. "I'll be studying comparative health systems for a short week and then I'll come back to the US. I'll most likely move home to do a gap year. With the way medical school works if you want to matriculate right after graduation you have to do all of this stuff during your junior year. Due to competing in athletics at a Division I school that just wasn't available.
"I'm either going to work as a CNA or get my phlebotomy license, that's still up in the air. But med school in 2020 is for sure the goal. Studying abroad is something that I never thought I'd be able to do, and I got into that program so I'm really excited to do that and get to travel."
The next toughest decision for Dopke will be what to focus her education on. But that decision is still a ways away.
"I think the best option is to go into med school undecided and then figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life," said Dopke. "I think that if I go in already decided on a specialty that I might pigeon hole myself. I think going in with an open mind and then figuring it out in med school is the best option. And it will make me the best doctor."
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Dopke brought in a number of high-profile accolades during her time with the Vandals. Earlier this year, she became the first Vandal soccer player and just third female Vandal ever to earn Google Cloud Academic All-America First Team honors, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Dopke was an All-Big Sky First Team selection and was named the 2018 Big Sky Defensive Most Valuable Player. She also earned United Soccer Coaches All-West Region Second Team honors.
Dopke appeared in 78 games as a Vandal, missing just one start due to injury. Her class leaves Idaho as the winningest class in program history, having won 41 games in four years. Her academics were equally impressive, as she currently boasts a 4.00 GPA in the medical sciences.
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