Dylan Lange lands national scholarship for graduate work
Dylan Lange, a 2019 Lakeland graduate with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, has been named one of two winners nationally of the National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation’s 2020 Challenge Scholarship.
Lange was selected by the NSCA Foundation Scholarship Committee after a thorough evaluation process of all applicants. This program awards $2,000 to NSCA members seeking either an undergraduate or graduate degree in a strength and conditioning-related field.
Lange is in his second of three years pursuing a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, Ill.) and has begun working towards a Ph.D. in Health Sciences.
While at Lakeland, Lange completed college and high school level strength and conditioning internships, a physical therapy internship (Aurora Sports Health and Physical Therapy) and observation hours (Northwestern Medicine Rehabilitation), and he obtained positions of intern and hire as a student researcher (Lakeland University), while playing four years of soccer for the Muskies.
He was named the 2018-2019 Outstanding Student in Exercise Science, was a four-year Dean's List recipient and a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Scholar Athlete.
Lange's undergraduate research experience lead to presenting 15 poster presentations at eight scientific conferences (presenting two studies at international, two studies national and 11 studies at state conferences).
Lange and additional members of Lakeland’s Exercise Science Research Department were awarded the "Best Original Research Poster Award" at the 2018 WI Athletic Trainers Association 44th Annual Meeting and Symposium, where they were the only undergraduate students presenting research.
He continues to work on research at NIU as a graduate research assistant in the School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders. After grad school, Lange hopes to work as a physical therapist, strength and conditioning coach and researcher specializing his work around athletes.
Lange passed the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) examination at the start of his senior year at Lakeland, and was hired as a high school strength and conditioning coach (Sheboygan South High School) shortly thereafter.
"Congratulations to Dylan for this well-deserved honor," said Nicole Dabbs, Ph.D., NSCA Foundation Board President. "He is an outstanding student with an extremely bright future. We are proud to support Dylan in his studies to be a future leader of the strength and conditioning industry.”
Carissa Gump, NSCA Foundation Executive Director, noted, “The scholarship applicant pool was strong this year, making the process very competitive. Dylan should be very proud of this accomplishment. I look forward to seeing Dylan grow within the profession.”
The National Strength and Conditioning Association Foundation supports 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.
