National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation Announces 2019 Grant Recipients

Colorado Springs, CO – The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the foundation’s 2019 grants. Since the Foundation’s creation in 2007, it has awarded 154 grants, which includes the 16 new recipients this year. This year’s recipients add to the prestigious legacy of those who came before them and fulfill the foundation’s mission of supporting the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) by providing funding for educational and research endeavors that enhance the practical applications of strength and conditioning. 

All grant recipients must be active NSCA members, must fully complete the appropriate applications, and meet all specific requirements for individual grants.

Grant recipients were selected by the NSCA Foundation Grant Committee after a thorough evaluation process of all applications. The NSCA Foundation will distribute a total of  $243,974 to the following recipients:

Graduate Research Grant, Master’s:

Thomas Lillquist, North Dakota State University

Emily Tagesen, Kent State University*

Graduate Research Grant, Doctoral:

Malia Blue, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Zachary Gillen, University of Nebraska-Lincoln*

Joshua Keller, University of Nebraska-Lincoln*

Maria Madueno, Central Queensland University

Jacob Mota, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Nicholas Ripley, University of Salford*

Young Investigator Grant:

Jacob Earp, University of Rhode Island

Brendan Scott, Murdoch University

Senior Investigator Grant:

Loren Chiu, University of Alberta

International Collaboration Grant:

Rhodri Lloyd, Cardiff Metropolitan University*

GNC® Nutritional Research Grant:

Chris Irvine, Texas Woman’s University

Coaching Advancement Grant:

Kelli Keener, Denver, CO

Eleiko Equipment Grant:

P.U.R.E Youth Athletic Alliance, Memphis, TN

Military CSCS Support Grant:

Steven Pinheiro, United States Army

*Indicates that school is a member of the NSCA Education Recognition Program (ERP). ERP schools are recognized and distinguished schools with standardized and approved strength and conditioning or personal training curricula in undergraduate or graduate settings.

“On behalf of the rest of the Board of Directors and the Grants Committee, I’d like to congratulate the 2019 NSCA Foundation grant recipients,” said Dr. Matt Stock, NSCA Foundation Board President. “This year we received many strong applications, and it is exciting to see the enthusiasm of the NSCA membership for these funding initiatives. The findings from these projects will undoubtedly impact the field of strength and conditioning for years to come.”

"The NSCA Foundation is proud to be able to carry out our mission of supporting the NSCA by providing grant funding. We are honored to contribute to the future of the strength and conditioning industry and help it continue achieving great success,” said Carissa Gump, NSCA Foundation Executive Director.

About the National Strength & Conditioning Association Foundation

The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation (NSCAF) was founded in 2007 with the aim of supporting the advancement of strength and conditioning practical applications. The NSCA Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing funding to NSCA members taking part in educational and research endeavors.

Since its establishment, the NSCA Foundation has awarded over 130 grants and over 400 scholarships, totaling over $2 million to outstanding individuals within the strength and conditioning community. The NSCA Foundation is one of the few foundations that fund work at the Master’s level and across all levels up to senior investigators, as well as one of the few sources that funds work in the strength and conditioning fields. A major goal of the foundation is to continue to maximize assets in order to increase grants and scholarships for NSCA members.