The scholarships are named in honor of the late Dr. Prentice Gautt, a former Big 12 Conference staff member and student services’ pioneer who passed away in March 2005. The list of all-time recipients has grown to 273 since the inception of the league in 1996-97. Starting in 2002-03, additional funding increased scholarship award winners to two per member institution.
To date the Big 12 has provided $1,835,600 for postgraduate education. The individual grants began at $2,500 in 1996-97, were raised to $5,000 in 1999, increased to $6,900 for 2004-05 and climbed to $7,500 in 2006-07.
Criteria for the awards includes a cumulative grade point average of 3.500 on a 4.000 scale, participation in at least two years of intercollegiate athletics at the nominee’s respective institution and completion of athletics’ eligibility. The student-athletes also must graduate from their respective member institutions within 15 months of their selection for a postgraduate scholarship and are expected to enroll in graduate/professional schools within two years of graduation. Three faculty representatives, one senior woman administrator and one director of athletics form the selection panel for the awards.
| Name | School | Sport |
| Tiffany Wesley | Baylor | Softball |
| Logan Roberts | Baylor | Track & Field/Cross Country |
| Max Van Dyke | Colorado | Track & Field |
| Vegard Kjoelhamar | Colorado | Nordic Ski |
| Lauren Fader | Iowa State | Soccer |
| Alex Whitesell | Iowa State | Track & Field/Cross Country |
| Nicole Schneider | Kansas | Rowing |
| Jareb Stallbaumer | Kansas | Track & Field |
| Alecia Zimbelman | Kansas State | Equestrian |
| Jason Schulte | Kansas State | Golf |
| Katie Vanarsdall | Missouri | Track & Field |
| Brian Hancock | Missouri | Track & Field |
| Natalie Willer | Nebraska | Track & Field |
| Casey Hauptman | Nebraska | Baseball |
| Ellen Mueller | Oklahoma | Golf |
| Brian Lepak | Oklahoma | Football |
| Whitney Wernimont | Oklahoma State | Soccer |
| Anthony Hill | Oklahoma State | Football |
| Adrienne Woods | Texas | Swimming & Diving |
| Bryan Collins | Texas | Swimming & Diving |
| Elizabeth Solch | Texas A&M | Equestrian |
| Ryan Tannehill | Texas A&M | Football |
| Jessica Gibbs | Texas Tech | Track & Field |
| David Neill | Texas Tech | Football |
