Ava Morales Recognized With Post-Grad Scholarship By Big Ten
After four years of excelling on and off the soccer field, Morales’ unique degree has set her up for a successful professional career.
Brady Ruth, Staff Writer
5/6/2026
From dazzling on the field to excelling in the classroom, soccer star Ava Morales took advantage of every single moment of her four years in College Park.
As her collegiate tenure concluded, she was awarded with a Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship, one of 28 such honored student-athletes in the Big Ten.
“I was honestly shocked,” Morales said. “I was told I was nominated a few weeks ago, and I was shocked. I’ve never really won scholarships or things like that. I honestly feel slightly unprepared going into post-grad, but I’m honored they saw something in me.”
“Ava has represented so much of what we value in a student-athlete at Maryland,” head coach Michael Marchiano said. “She’s committed herself to academic excellence with the same focus and accountability she shows in competition. Ava has handled plenty of adversity, managed a demanding schedule and continued to raise the bar for herself and those around her. Watching her earn this Post-Grad scholarship is incredibly rewarding because we know just how much she has invested to get here. We couldn’t be more proud of her.”
A native of Clarksville, wearing “Maryland” across her chest has always carried special meaning for Morales. The opportunity to attend a top public university allowed her to pursue her professional goals, showcase her athletic ability, and represent her home state all at once.
“I absolutely love Maryland,” Morales said. “I've always wanted to go here, and I love everything about this place. This is basically my second home, so it was honestly an honor that the school would recognize me for the academic side of my story.”
That tale includes her finishing with an astonishing 3.909 GPA. After four years of pursuing a degree in Biological Sciences: Physiology and Neurobiology, Morales is taking a vast amount of knowledge into the next chapters of her life.
“It was difficult, but I had such an amazing support staff around me,” Morales said. “The coaches and academic advisors really helped me. There were obviously ups and downs, but having a busy schedule honestly helped — It forced me to get everything done. I’m pretty driven in both academics and athletics, so I knew that if I wanted to meet my post-grad goals, I didn’t really have a choice — I had to make sure I did well, both on and off the field.”
I learned the importance of having a strong support system. I had a great group of people around me — Coach Marchiano and my teammates pushed me and were there when I needed them. Academically, the support staff here encouraged me and kept me going when things were hard. Having that kind of support made everything a little easier.Ava Morales
10' | GOOOOOAAAAALLL AVA MORALES!!!!
— Maryland W. Soccer (@TerpsWSoccer) October 5, 2025
Terps 1, Illinois 0 pic.twitter.com/K02ybjcSCu
Her dreams of working in the medical field have been clear from the beginning. She had the vision, but didn’t know how much joy she’d find in the biology realm until she started her classes at Maryland.
“I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare,” Morales said. “Both of my parents are doctors, and I kind of always wanted to go down that path. Physiology and neurobiology aligned with that vision and the requirements for med school. Once I got here, I started to really enjoy the biology classes, so I stuck with it all the way through.”
The nimbleness it takes to be a soccer player wasn’t the only balance Morales required across her four years. Her academic excellence coexisted with a four-year career that featured 10 goals — five of them coming in her senior season as she captained the Terps
“I really don't like doing poorly in a class,” Morales said. “I get very stressed if I don’t get good grades, but I got into a routine, and I figured out what works for me. I learned how to study and how to manage those classes while playing a sport. Once I got into that routine, managing everything wasn't too bad.”
Despite balancing — and excelling in — both athletics and academics, Morales wasn’t able to get the clinical hours that she needed for the next step of her journey. Understandably, being a collegiate athlete consumed a lot of her time, so she’ll be taking a few years after graduation to gain hands-on medical experience and fill her hours with research to build up her application for med school.
She’s planning to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) next January to propel her into med school after her gap years are complete. In the meantime, she plans to work in areas with patent interactions and gain real-world experience in areas she’s already shadowed in.
Her four years in College Park molded her into a brilliant, well-rounded individual with a heart for helping others and a strong-willed mindset to overcome any obstacles in her way. Of every lesson and trait her time in college bestowed upon her, two rise to the top.
“I think the biggest thing is probably resilience,” Morales said. “The past four years definitely have not been easy. There have been ups and downs with soccer and school, and balancing both has made me tougher and helped me learn how to persevere through difficult moments.”
I always knew I wanted to work in healthcare. Both of my parents are doctors, and I kind of always wanted to go down that path. Physiology and neurobiology aligned with that vision and the requirements for med school. Once I got here, I started to really enjoy the biology classes, so I stuck with it all the way through.Ava Morales
Her humility also helps her recognize the immense support she had along the way. From two parents paving the way for her dream — and everyone who’s helped her chase it — Morales knows that she couldn’t have gotten to where she is today alone.
“I’d also say I learned the importance of having a strong support system,” Morales said. “I had a great group of people around me — Coach Marchiano and my teammates pushed me and were there when I needed them. Academically, the support staff here encouraged me and kept me going when things were hard. Having that kind of support made everything a little easier.”
Ultimately, she wants her professional story to unfold right at home in College Park, an area that’s shaped her in every way possible. Inspired by the people who cared for her across her four years, she eyes a future in caring for the next wave of Terps.
“My dream job is honestly to come back to Maryland and be a sports medicine team physician for the athletes here,” Morales said. “Throughout the past few years, I’ve been shadowing the team physicians who help us, and I’ve gotten to see different athletes, their injuries and how they’re handled. I’ve had my own injuries, and the thing I want to do most is help athletes through theirs because I know how difficult it can be to take time off from your sport.
“I think the best way to give back is to help people just like me when I’m older. I love the facilities here. I love the people here. So, at some point — maybe very far down the line — I’d love to come back and work in a sports medicine role here.”
