INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Auburn University at Montgomery women's soccer player Karla Gaytan and men's soccer player Franck Kouentchi have both been tabbed as recipients of the NCAA Division II Degree Completion Scholarship for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year.

The NCAA established the Division II Degree Completion Award Program in 2001 to provide deserving student-athletes with financial assistance for them to complete their first baccalaureate degree. Candidates will be students who have exhausted their athletics eligibility.

"To hear that Karla and Franck have been awarded this scholarship demonstrates their commitment to prioritizing their degree," said Associate Director of Athletics for Internal Operations Amber Rae Childers. "Despite having their collegiate careers impacted by the pandemic, both Franck and Karla have remained steadfast in pursuing their goals both on the soccer field and in the classroom."

To date, nearly $8,000,000 has been given to approximately 1,750 deserving student-athletes. Of those student-athletes who have received the award since its inception, approximately 90 percent have earned their undergraduate degree using this program.

"Franck will graduate in December and Karla will graduate in May," said Childers. "We look forward to celebrating both walking across the stage this year."

For the third year, the NCAA approved a waiver of selected award requirements for those student-athletes who received an extension of eligibility waiver in 2020-21, due to COVID-19, so they can participate in their last season during the 2023-24 academic year and still receive the award. Student-athletes who received an extension for this year do not need to have exhausted their athletics eligibility to be nominated for the Division II Degree-Completion Award and may still receive athletics aid from the institution during the 2023-24 academic year.

Former AUM softball student-athlete Morgan Duschell was AUM's first recipient of the DII Degree Completion Scholarship in 2021-22. Gaytan and Kouentchi are the second and third Warhawks to receive this award.

To be nominated, applicants must be within 36 semester hours, or 54 quarter hours, of completion of an undergraduate degree. They must also meet the institution's standard for good academic standing and must use the award to complete the first undergraduate degree requirements from the institution where the student-athlete exhausted his or her athletics eligibility.

Gaytan, a Worland, Wyo. native, saw action in eight games and made four starts for AUM after returning from injury. She was named to the GSC Fall Academic Honor Roll and logged 492 minutes in goal with a 1.46 goals-against average. The 5-foot-6 goalkeeper made 28 saves and faced 83 total shots while posting a .778 save percentage, which was among the best in the Gulf South Conference in her time on the pitch. 

Kouentchi, a Bert, France native, made 12 starts for the Warhawks in the 2022 season and appeared in 17 games. He logged 1,093 total minutes ans helped AUM to its second consecutive Gulf South Conference semifinals appearance. The 6-foot-1 forward scored four goals on 24 shots, including eight shots on goal.

For more information on the NCAA Division II Degree Completion Scholarship, click HERE.

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