Nathan Bosse (Jr., Lake Barrington, Ill.) and Dani Cabrera (So., Oconomowoc, Wisc.) have won Avery Brundage Scholarships for the 2017-18 academic year.

The Avery Brundage Scholarship Fund awards scholarships for University of Illinois students "who are both gifted students and exceptional athletes, for their combined physical and mental development."

Criteria for the scholarships include an academic standing within the top 25% of the student's school or college, as well as athletic excellence and an indicated intent to pursue athletic endeavors in the future.

Cabrera was part of the 200 free relay team that took two firsts and two second place finishes during the 2016-17 season, and finished fifth at the Horizon League Championships.  She established career best times in the 50 free (24.00), 100 free (53.40), and 200 free (1:56.29) at the conference tournament.

Bosse earned a 200 free first place finish in 2015-16, and swam to a top-4 finish in the event several times this past season.  Showing improvement as the season continued, he contributed to the Flames' third place finish in the 200 free relay at the Horizon League Championships.

"I am proud of both Nathan and Dani for their awards," head swimming coach Tim Loeffler said.  "They have been terrific representatives of the swimming and diving program since Day 1.  Nathan is our team's SAAC [Student-Athlete Advisory Council] representative as well as our men's team captain for next year while majoring in pre-med.  Dani had a great year in the pool as well as excelling in the Engineering School.  It's always great to see our student-athletes get the rightfully deserved honor for their hard work in and out of the pool."

The late Avery Brundage, a 1909 U. of I. graduate, competed in the 1912 Olympics and later served as president of both the U.S. and International Olympic committees. He established the scholarship in 1974, with a $343,000 endowment to the University of Illinois Foundation. Over the past 42 years, 915 scholarships totaling more than $1.2 million have been awarded.

Additional info courtesy of Illinois News Bureau.