Simpson awarded NCAA Women's Enhancement Scholarship

Andrew Woodley, Sports Information Director

INDIANAPOLIS – Bethany College women's track & field senior Lauren Simpson (Washington, Pa./Trinity) will be awarded with a $7,500 Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics by the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interest Committee.

The NCAA awards the scholarship through a competitive selection process to a very select group of student-athletes who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies. Simpson is one of just 26 students in the country to receive the honor. She was recently accepted to Illinois State University and will pursue a degree in sport management, while completing a graduate assistantship in the Redbird Athletics Communications Office.

"Lauren epitomizes the type of student-athlete we are proud to develop at Bethany," said Bethany Athletics Director Brian Rose. "Since day one on campus, she has been seeking challenges and opportunities to prepare herself for a career in athletics. Earning this prestigious NCAA scholarship is just one of the latest examples of how Lauren has represented Bethany with class and distinction. As proud as we are of Lauren for all she has accomplished at Bethany, we can't wait to see what her future holds."

As a scholarship recipient, Simpson has also been extended an invitation to attend the 2017 NCAA Career in Sports Forum this summer. The event is a four-day educational session that allows student-athletes to network and learn about careers in intercollegiate athletics in Indianapolis.

Already a three-time member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Spring Honor Roll, Simpson is a former two-year starter on the Bison Women's Basketball team and currently a middle-distance runner on the Bethany Women's Track & Field team. She is also the president of the Bethany Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the vice-president of the PAC SAAC, a member of the Phi Mu sorority and works in a variety of facets as a work study in the Bethany sports information office.

Simpson will receive her bachelor's degree in communications from Bethany at the conclusion of the spring semester.

"Bethany gave me the opportunity to get involved in so many different aspects, not just athletically but also around campus," Simpson said. "I grew from a shy reserved high school student into a leader that I never thought I could be. Being involved in SAAC and becoming the vice president of the PAC SAAC really propelled me into those leadership roles."

"This campus has transformed me into a leader and allowed me the confidence that I can do anything that I put my mind to. Receiving this honor from the NCAA is further evidence of that."

"I'm excited to attend the Career in Sports Forum," she added. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to network and meet with people who are in prominent roles in collegiate athletics. I'm hoping for the chance to get my foot in the door and meet with other females who have paved the way for young women such as myself to pursue a career in a male-dominated industry. Ultimately, my goal is to begin a career in collegiate athletic administration."

The goal of the NCAA enhancement programs is to increase the pool of and opportunities for qualified minority and female candidates in intercollegiate athletics through graduate scholarships.

The NCAA awards $7,500 to 13 ethnic minorities and 13 female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of graduate studies. The applicant must be seeking admission or have been accepted into a sports administration or program that will help the applicant obtain a career in intercollegiate athletics, such as athletics administrator, coach, athletic trainer or a career that provides a direct service to intercollegiate athletics.