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 293 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 over $2 million for postgraduate education. The individual grants began at $2,500 in 1996-97, were raised to $5,000 in 1999 and increased to $6,900 for 2004-05. The awards climbed to $7,500 in 2006-07 and moved to $9,000 in 2011-12.
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.
2011-12 Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
| Sydney Wilson | Baylor | Softball |
| Jon Rigenberg | Baylor | Baseball |
| Kianna Elahi | Iowa State | Track & Field |
| Brett Bueker | Iowa State | Football |
| Rebeka Stowe | Kansas | CC / Track & Field |
| Zach Zarda | Kansas | CC / Track & Field |
| Ryan Krais | Kansas State | Track & Field |
| Matthew Giller | Kansas State | Baseball |
| Allison Heizelman | Missouri | Gymnastics |
| Andreas Plackis | Missouri | Baseball |
| Megan Ferguson | Oklahoma | Gymnastics |
| Patrick Piscitelli | Oklahoma | Gymnastics |
| Chelsea Garcia | Oklahoma State | Softball |
| Mark Nelson | Oklahoma State | CC / Track & Field |
| Ashleigh Fontenette | Texas | Basketball |
| Austin Dicharry | Texas | Baseball |
| Sheri Olivier | Texas A&M | Tennis |
| William Barry | Texas A&M | CC / Track & Field |
| Holley Gentsch | Texas Tech | Softball |
| Scott LeJeune | Texas Tech | Baseball |
