St. Patrick's Day may have come and gone, but Patrick Millikan will probably go right on celebrating.

How fitting was it that this tall, red-headed, stalwart of the Wabash offensive line found out just days before we all became a little Irish he was one of 29 male athletes named to receive the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship award to fall sports participants.

Millikan received a call from his parents letting know a letter from the NCAA had arrived at the house, but he didn't know for certain he had received the scholarship until an email from Professor Tobey Herzog asked him to stop by the office to discuss some "good news!" Herzog, the faculty athletics representative for Wabash, had nominated Millikan for the award.

"I was stunned," Millikan said. "It didn't really start sinking in until someone passed me on campus after the story appeared on the web site. They said 'congratulations Patrick' and I thought it was regarding getting distinction in comps. When they said it was about getting the scholarship, and then other notes and comments started to follow, I began to realize just what this means."

Millikan will take no credit for his outstanding achievements that led to his nomination and eventual winning of the award. Just as he did during the football season when requested for an interview and instead would bring the entire offensive line with him as a group, Patrick gives the credit to the team and the school.

"This says a lot about Wabash College. We do things right here. The priorities of the school and of the athletics program mirror the NCAA ideal regarding the true student-athlete. That's what makes it possible to win an award such as this."

It was no luck of the Irish that brought this scholarship to Patrick Millikan. Just good old fashioned hard work as a member of the football team and as a part of Wabash College.

You can read the details of Patrick's NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship here.