SPEARFISH, S.D. – Senior Black Hills State University cross country and track and field runner, Jonah Theisen, has earned a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

"I'm extremely grateful to be able to receive this amazing scholarship to continue my education towards a PhD in Chemistry," said Theisen. "It is very rewarding knowing my hard work in both athletics and academics is paying off."

The NCAA awards just 126 scholarships across all Divisions each year, and are given to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically, and who are in their final year of NCAA intercollegiate athletics competition.  

"It's really exciting to have Jonah be awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, our first one ever at BHSU. Student athletes across all sports and all three NCAA divisions are eligible to apply for this award, making it one of the most competitive of the NCAA scholarships available," said faculty athletic representative, Dan Durben. "That Jonah rose to the top of this group to be selected for the award is a testament to his outstanding achievements in both academics and athletics, and his commitment to community service."

Theisen, who hails from Kenai, Alaska, is a physical science major at BHSU, and currently holds a 3.889 GPA. Academically, he has been named to the RMAC All-Academic First Team four times in his career, and has been on the Honor Roll three times.

Theisen also gets the job done athletically. He won the national championship in the steeple chase in the 2016 outdoor track and field season. He also finished 14th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2018, earning All-American honors. It was his third time qualifying for the cross country national meet. As a member of the indoor track and field distance medley relay team, Theisen is about to compete at his fourth National Championships. In 2016, he helped lead the DMR to a third place finish, collecting All-American accolades.