Bustillos Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
4/23/2015 11:00:00 AM | Softball
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.— Senior Shannon Bustillos, a four-year standout on the Maryland softball team, was recently named a recipient of the prestigious NCAA Ethnic Minority Program Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics the NCAA announced earlier this week.
“Shannon Bustillos exemplifies the true meaning of student-athlete and could not be a more deserving candidate for this prestigious scholarship,” said University of Maryland director of athletics Kevin Anderson. “We are very proud that Shannon has been recognized for her outstanding academic achievements and demonstrated leadership both on and off the field.”
“Shannon represents the best of all of our student-athletes at the University of Maryland,” said Dr. Nick Hadley, Maryland's Faculty Athletics Representative. “She is the starting catcher for the softball team and a star player for them. She's been terrific in the classroom and also in the campus community. This is just a great opportunity for her.”
One of the numerous NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships awarded by the NCAA, the goal of the enhancement program is to increase the pool and opportunities for qualified minority and female candidates in intercollegiate athletics through postgraduate scholarships.
“It is an honor to be named a recipient of the NCAA Ethnic Minority Program Postgraduate Scholarship. I am thankful for the academic and athletic support that has been provided by the administration and my coaches over the last four years,” Bustillos said. “The University of Maryland and the Maryland Athletic Department has afforded me such amazing opportunities both inside and outside the classroom. I am proud to graduate next month and excited to continue my education and work towards my goal of one day becoming an athletics director.”
A leader amongst fellow student-athletes and in the student body, the Anaheim, Calif. native currently serves as Vice-President of the Maryland Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and represents over 500 Maryland student-athletes within the athletic department. In addition, the senior serves an elected appointment on the University Student Judiciary Honor Council and was appointed as the student-athlete representative to the Big Ten Integration Work Group on Donor and Alumni Relations and attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum. Bustillos also sits on the University Hazing Committee and participates on the University Libraries Board.
A criminal justice major, Bustillos was named to the All-ACC Academic team in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The catcher is one of the most decorated hitters in Maryland softball history, currently sits at second on the Maryland all-time RBI list with 146 and tied for second on the all-time home run list. This season, the senior is hitting .283 with eight home runs and 37 RBIs. In conference play she is amongst the team leaders with a .397 batting average and .825 slugging percentage with six home runs and 25 RBIs.
-Maryland-
