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News Release

UMBC’S ADAM BLAIS AWARDED MACDA POST-GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP

5/9/2006

Adam Blais will attend dental school at the University of Connecticut upon graduation from UMBC.

Towson, Md.-UMBC senior swimmer Adam Blais (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) was named one of three recipients of the Maryland Association of College Directors of Athletics (MACDA) post-graduate scholarships, the organization announced last week.

Blais has excelled over the last four years as a member of the UMBC men’s swimming and diving team, helping to lead the Retrievers to three straight America East Conference titles. He was a member of the winning 800-yard freestyle relay team at the 2006 America East Championships, and he took home silvers in the 200- and 400-free relays while medaling in both of his individual events, the 200-IM (5th) and the 100-breast (7th).

A year earlier, Blais won the gold in the 200-IM and the 800-free relay and captured the bronze in the 200-free while placing fifth in the 100-free. As a sophomore in 2004, his 800-free relay also won the conference title, setting a new meet record.

A two-time team co-captain, Blais is a team leader in and out of the pool, and he excels in the classroom as well. He was a member of the inaugural America East Winter All-Academic Squad in 2006, and he is a two-time member of the America East Honor Roll, including once on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll. He has also been named to the Dean’s List twice, and he was inducted into the National College Athlete Honors Society.

A member of VIP K-12 Fellowship, Blais aids at Sherwood High School weekly in honors and special education biology classes. He also teaches at-risk middle school children to swim one night a week as part of the Choice Program at UMBC.

Blais has been accepted to the D.M.D. program at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.

The MACDA post-graduate scholarships recognize three student-athletes for superior work in class and on the field. The honorees represent three Maryland institutions of higher learning and differing levels of NCAA competition. Each recipient will receive a one-time grant of $500 upon their enrollment in a post-graduate program.

To be eligible, student-athletes must possess a minimum 3.2 grade-point average in undergraduate studies, excel in a varsity sport, participate in leadership activities beyond the playing field and plan to further their education.