Nick Knieling First Scholarship Recipient

MIDLAND, Mich. - Minor League Baseball today announced the first recipient of the MiLB Stars of Tomorrow Scholarship with DeVry University. Great Lakes Loons group sales manager Nick Knieling will be the first person in the program.

"I'm very thankful for the opportunity Minor League Baseball and DeVry University have given me with this scholarship," Knieling said. "The chance to further pursue my education is something I have wanted to do for quite some time. I'll now have the chance to do just that."

Knieling, 26, began his sports career in 2012 with ESPN 100.9-FM as an intern and producer with the station. He was then hired as a full-time group sales coordinator in the fall of 2013 with the Loons. 

"Nick Knieling is a fine young man who will make every organization with which he is associated, proud and confident to have him amongst their ranks," said Loons director of ticket sales Thomas Pepe. "His desire to fulfill his obligations in every way makes him a joy to be with every single day."

This summer, Knieling plans to spend more time with the team's accounting department, shadowing and learning about accounting at the professional sports level. Knieling hopes to use this opportunity to finish his Bachelor of Science degree in technical management with a concentration in accounting.

"One of the goals of Minor League Baseball's partnership with DeVry University is to provide educational opportunities to MiLB players, staff and spouses," said Pat O'Conner, President & CEO of Minor League Baseball. "Through this program, individuals can enroll in career-oriented programs and earn an associate, bachelor's or master's degree, or certificate, to help them achieve their goals."

To be eligible to receive the MiLB Stars of Tomorrow Scholarship, an individual must be a current or former MiLB player or player's spouse, an employee of an MiLB team (including seasonal and part-time interns, executives and on-field personnel), an employee of MiLB (including interns and executives), an umpire of an MiLB league or a member of the MiLB Alumni Association.

The Scholarship Committee considers multiple factors in determining the awards, such as essay submission, past performance (athletic, academic and/or career), service to the community, leadership potential, indicators of future performance and availability of funds. DeVry University and its Keller Graduate School of Management are the Official Education and Career Development Partner of Minor League Baseball.

Minor League Baseball, headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, is the governing body for all professional baseball teams in the United States, Canada, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic that are affiliated with Major League Baseball clubs through their farm systems. Fans are coming out in unprecedented numbers to this one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found at Minor League Baseball ballparks. In 2014, Minor League Baseball attracted 42.4 million fans to its ballparks to see the future stars of the sport hone their skills. From the electricity in the stands to the excitement on the field, Minor League Baseball has provided affordable family-friendly entertainment to people of all ages since its founding in 1901. For more information about Minor League Baseball, visit www.MiLB.com.

The Great Lakes Loons are a ninth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com, or call 989-837-BALL.