COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Shannon Bustillos (softball) and Josh Polacek (wrestling) have been named recipients of the Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship, announced Thursday by the Big Ten Office.
The Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships are awarded annually to 28 student-athletes. Each Big Ten institution annually presents two student-athletes (one male and one female) with one-time postgraduate scholarships of $7,500 each. Each of the recipients was evaluated based primarily on their achievements in academics.
“We are incredibly proud of Shannon's and Josh's accomplishments,” said director of athletics Kevin Anderson. “Their commitment to excellence both academically and athletically exemplifies what it means to be a Terrapin student-athlete. We wish them the very best in their pursuit of furthering their education.”
Recipients of the postgraduate scholarship had to have been in their final season of NCAA athletics eligibility while earning an overall undergraduate minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.200 or its equivalent, including all hours earned at all institutions attended.
“It is my distinct pleasure to congratulate both Shannon and Josh for their outstanding work in the classroom and contributions to the academic community here at Maryland,” Dr. Nicholas Hadley, Faculty Athletics Representative, said. “They truly epitomize the Maryland Way which commits to graduating our student-athletes and preparing them for life after Maryland.”
The most decorated player in Maryland softball history, Bustillos currently holds the all-time home run record and all-time RBI record in Terrapin history. A career .306 hitter, the senior ranks amongst the highest in total batting averages in program history and as a four-year starter, patrolled the plate for 208 total games.
This season, the Anaheim, Calif., native boasted a .410 batting average, .897 slugging percentage and .471 on-base percentage in Big Ten play and was honored with Second Team All-Big Ten and All-Defensive team honors by the conference. A fixture in the community, Bustillos serves on the Maryland Student Athlete Advisory Committee and recently received the prestigious NCAA Ethnic Minority Postgraduate Scholarship. She is set to graduate with a degree in criminology and criminal justice in May and aspires to pursue a degree in Law.
Polacek overcame shoulder surgery to start at 125 pounds for the Terps after previously competing at 133 pounds during his career. The Johnstown, Pa., native won five matches over the course of the season and competed admirably against some of the top competition in the country, including a one-point loss to defending national champion Jesse Delgado of Illinois. Polacek earned a career-high 18 wins as a redshirt freshman. He was named to the All-Big Ten Academic Team this season and is set to graduate with a degree in general biology in May and will be attending Dental school in the fall.
