IRVING, Texas – Conference USA announced the 14 recipients of the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship Awards today. This is the ninth year the award has been named for Dr. Castañeda, who served Rice University for 46 years as an educator, coach and Faculty Athletics Representative before he passed away in November 2008. The conference annually awards the $4,000 Postgraduate Scholarships to graduates as selected by the C-USA Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Board of Directors.
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2017 Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Lee McNeil, Football, Charlotte
Bianca Biglione, Women’s Tennis, Florida Atlantic
Samantha Green, Softball, FIU
Natalie Moran, Softball, Louisiana Tech
Willie Hayes, Cross Country, Marshall
Max Linder, Football, Middle Tennessee
Amy Henard, Volleyball, North Texas
Christian Wirth, Men’s Soccer, Old Dominion
Katherine Ip, Women’s Tennis, Rice
Danielle Block, Softball, Southern Miss
Catherine Ragon, Women’s Tennis, UAB
Anthony Rotich, Men’s Cross Country, UTEP
Geonte Jackson, Baseball, UTSA
Micah Jones, Women’s Basketball, WKU
Lee McNeil, Football, Charlotte
McNeill was Charlotte’s starting quarterback in its inaugural season in the FBS. He played 34 games and threw for 1,889 yards with eight touchdowns. McNeill obtained his undergraduate degree in business administration with a 3.97 GPA and is expected to earn his MBA in December of 2017. The Indian Trail, North Carolina, native registered a 4.0 GPA in seven of his first eight semesters and earned a spot on the 2015 C-USA All-Academic Team.
Bianca Biglione, Women’s Tennis, Florida Atlantic
Biglione completed her undergraduate degree in biological sciences/psychology with a 4.0 GPA. A native of Panama City Beach, Florida, Biglione was the team captain her final two years and was a two-time all-conference honoree. Her excellence in the classroom resulted in a Student Athlete of the Year award, a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection and InTouch Credit Union C-USA Women’s Tennis All-Academic Team honors. Biglione plans to further her education in medical school.
Samantha Green, Softball, FIU
An FIU utility infielder, Green was a four-year letter winner for the Panther softball team and received her bachelor’s degree in physics last month. Green posted career highs in all offensive categories during the 2017 season while maintaining a 3.588 GPA. As a five-time Dean’s List honoree, Green accepted the only spot at Vanderbilt University’s Professional Doctorate in Medical Physics program and will complete the diagnostic track.
Natalie Moran, Softball, Louisiana Tech
Moran was a four-year letter winner for the Lady Techster softball team at the catcher position and recently graduated with honors as a biology major. Moran posted a 3.907 cumulative GPA during her time at Louisiana Tech and was a four-time C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient. She is applying to various medical schools for postgraduate education.
Willie “Tony” Hayes, Cross Country, Marshall
Hayes competed in all of his team meets in 2013 and 2015-2016, earning varsity letters each year. At the 2016 C-USA Cross Country Championship, Hayes ran his career-best 8K with a time of 25:55.7. The Fairmont, West Virginia, native earned his bachelor’s in pre-med with a minor in chemistry and a notable GPA of 3.94. Hayes was named to the C-USA Cross Country All-Academic Team the past two years, is a three-time C-USA Academic Medal Recipient and was named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times. Hayes will be attending the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.
Max Linder, Football, Middle Tennessee
Linder received three varsity letters and played in 21 games at tight end for the Blue Raiders. With a 3.34 GPA, he is expected to graduate in August 2017 with a degree in exercise science. The Ocala, Florida, native plans to attend Middle Tennessee’s master’s program focused on leisure and sport management after graduation.
Amy Henard, Volleyball, North Texas
Henard, a setter on the Mean Green volleyball team, held the role of captain her junior and senior seasons, and became the only player in school history to register 3,500 assists and 1,000 digs in a career. Henard graduated from North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, while maintaining a 3.82 cumulative GPA. Henard is applying to the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Specializing in Medical Sciences.
Christian Wirth, Men’s Soccer, Old Dominion
Wirth earned a bachelor’s in exercise science with a minor in psychology on the heels of a 3.74 GPA. Wirth, who was named to the 2016 C-USA All-Tournament Team due to his stellar defensive play, earned varsity letters in all four years with the Monarchs. The three-time C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll selectee was admitted into the Physical Therapy program at Northeastern University.
Katherine Ip, Women’s Tennis, Rice
Ip was tabbed an All-American in singles (2016), and was named All-C-USA Singles First Team all four years. She earned C-USA Freshman of the Year honors in 2014, was on a C-USA All-Conference Doubles squad in three of her four years. The Hong Kong native received her undergrad in Kinesiology after posting an overall GPA of 3.999. Ip has been named to the Rice Scholar Athlete and ITA Scholar Athlete twice, C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times and was tabbed C-USA Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2016.
Danielle Block, Softball, Southern Miss
Block was a four-year letter winner for the Golden Eagle softball team as a pitcher, and graduated with the USM Department of Biological Sciences Outstanding Senior Award. Block was a C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medalist in each of her four years at Southern Miss, and was a two-time C-USA Spirit of Service Award winner (2015, 2016). The biological sciences major was accepted into the University of Mississippi’s School of Medicine.
Catherine Ragon, Women’s Tennis, UAB
Ragon, a four-year letter winner and two-time team captain received her undergraduate degree in kinesiology. She maintained the squad’s top GPA (3.86), and was on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll each year since 2013. The Mandeville, Louisiana, product will attend Texas Woman’s University School of Physical Therapy.
Anthony Rotich, Men’s Cross Country, UTEP
Rotich, a civil engineering major and mathematics minor, graduated from UTEP as a three-time C-USA All-Academic honoree and a four-time C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll recipient. Rotich was a four-time NCAA Champion and an 11-time All-American. He was a part of 19 C-USA titles and was a two-time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Athlete of the Year. Rotich is applying to UTEP’s College of Engineering - Construction Management.
Geonte Jackson, Baseball, UTSA
Jackson, a two-time C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll member, received his bachelor’s degree in athletic medicine. A native of Sugar Land, Texas, Jackson tallied four multiple-hit games with three multi-RBI games during his time wearing a Roadrunner jersey.
Micah Jones, Women’s Basketball, WKU
Jones was a four-year letter winner for the Lady Topper basketball team, and recently graduated as an exercise science major, with a minor in organizational leadership. Jones posted a cumulative GPA of 3.92 and earned C-USA Honor Roll recognition twice (2014-15, 2015-16). She is applying to Bellarmine University’s and WKU University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy programs.