Two given Behrman awards

Two Jill Behrman Emerging Leader Scholarship awards were presented Wednesday to Student Recreational Sports Association president senior Brooke Albright and president of the 2003 Spirit of Sport executive committee junior Beth Gillis. \nThis is the first year two Jill Behrman scholarship awards have been presented.\n"We managed to have enough money to give out two scholarships this year," Eric Behrman, Jill's father, said.\nThe scholarships are worth $1,000 each. Some of the funding for the award was raised through the Jill Behrman Run for the End Zone event. Jill's mother Marilyn Behrman said funding was also raised in other ways.\n"Friends, family and co-workers helped contribute (to the scholarship)," Marilyn said. "Money was also raised through the reward fund."\nIU student Jill Behrman disappeared from Bloomington while on a bike ride in May 2000. Her remains were recently found near Martinsville.\nAfter Jill was hired at the Student Recreational Sports Center, the Behrman family became involved with IU's recreational sports.\n"She finally found her niche at the SRSC," Marilyn said. "I knew that was where she was most happy."\nAlbright said she applied for the scholarship this year because of her involvement with SRSA.\n"I have been involved in rec sports for four years now," Albright said. "All activities I have been involved with at the University has been with Rec Sports."\nUsing specific criteria, the Behrman family helped choose the two recipients this year. Much of the criteria was based on Jill's life and the commitments and values important to her.\nThe Jill Behrman Emerging Leader Scholarship award was created by the Behrman family to honor Jill after she disappeared three years ago.\nA few of the things considered in choosing the recipients included involvement in Rec Sports for at least one year, full-time undergraduate student status, exhibiting campus life leadership ability and responsibility, involvement in division, University and community organizations, displaying a passion for universally ethical values and possessing respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, courage, diligence and sincere concern for others.\nAnother motive behind Albright's decision to apply was to honor the Behrmans, she said. Jill was once her co-worker at the SRSC.\nEric Behrman said choosing the recipients this year was a tough decision. All the applicants were more than qualified for the scholarships, he said.\n"We went through the list (of applicants) and chose our top three," Eric said.\nMarilyn said when she looked at all the applications, she was amazed at all the things the students were able to accomplish within their community.\nThe scholarships were presented during the annual SRSA honors banquet. Forty-seven students, volunteers and employees were honored at the ceremony. \nThe Student Recreational Sports Association is also hosting the first annual Hoops for Hope tournament, a 3-on-3 tournament that will help raise money for the Jill Behrman Emerging Leader Scholarship for the following year. The basketball tournament will give students a chance to team up with faculty or staff members to compete against one another and interact in a fun environment. \nThe tournament will be held May 3 at the HPER. \nEric said he agreed with his wife and hopes the scholarship will one day become an endowed scholarship and receive it's own funding.\n"We are happy and honored to be able to do this in honor of our daughter," Eric said.