Greenville, S.C. – Former Furman women's soccer standout Helen Gutierrez has been selected as one of 21 fall female athletes in all three NCAA divisions to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
Gutierrez, a native of Statesboro, Ga., will receive a $10,000 scholarship to continue her postgraduate studies. After sitting out her first of four years as a member of the Furman women's soccer program, Gutierrez played in and started 54 matches over three seasons. The midfielder totaled four goals and added one assist. She was a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection as a Paladins and was named to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll three times.
"It's such a tremendous honor to have one of our own receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship," said Paladin head coach
Andrew Burr. "This is one of the most prestigious awards given by the NCAA and they could not have chosen a more deserving recipient. Helen Gutierrez has represented our soccer program and Furman University with class and excellence on and off the field."
Following her four years at Furman, Gutierrez continued her academic and athletic careers at NAIA Life University this past season. She netted 17 goals and added nine assists to help Life reach the SSAC finals and the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
Each year, the NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have completed their final year of athletics competition. The scholarships are distributed three times annually — in the fall, winter and spring — providing 21 scholarships each to men and women per season. The award is a one-time, nonrenewable scholarship intended to support graduate study at an accredited institution.
Established in 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program promotes and encourages graduate education by recognizing the Association's most accomplished student-athletes. The program evaluates candidates on their athletic and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service and leadership.
2025-26 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Fall Awardees
Men's Awardees
- Avery Book, Glenville State, football
- Luke Chandler, Trinity (Texas), soccer
- Samuel Edwards, Michigan State, football
- Michel Feldman, Queens (North Carolina), soccer
- Lucas Florsheim, Pomona-Pitzer, cross country
- Noah Francis, Thomas More, cross country
- Logan Garnica, Utah State, cross country
- Alexis Ibarra, William Jewell, soccer
- Kyle Johnson, Wheaton (Illinois), soccer
- Tristan Martinez, Clemson, football
- Joshua Mason, Michigan State, soccer
- Elliot Miller, Wooster, soccer
- Gabriel Nichols, Carleton, cross country
- Tanner Pulice, Stanford, water polo
- Rodger Rivera, Texas, cross country
- Stirling Sakashita, University of Chicago, football
- Will Sangpachatanaruk, Johns Hopkins, soccer
- Gabe Scales, Ole Miss, cross country
- Tanner Talley, Kansas, cross country
- Timothy Treinen, Johns Hopkins, soccer
- Aidan Westerberg, North Central (Illinois), soccer
Women's Awardees
- Bethany Arabe, Point Loma, soccer
- Natalie Barnouw, MIT, soccer
- Riley Beach, Iowa State, cross country
- Ella Becker, Cornell College, volleyball
- Lila Brown, Dickinson, soccer
- Erin DiSandro, Muhlenberg, field hockey
- Audriana Fitzmorris, Stanford, volleyball
- Helen Gutierrez, Furman, soccer
- Manu Johnsen, Kennesaw State, volleyball
- Caroline Kelly, Tufts, soccer
- Cristina Lopez, Vassar, field hockey
- Rebecca Mantione, Hobart/William Smith, field hockey
- Amanda McNally, Stockton, cross country
- Leena Mehendale, MIT, soccer
- Ilsa Newland, Trinity (Texas), soccer
- Olivia Olson, Central Missouri, volleyball
- Eleni Panagopoulos, Johns Hopkins, volleyball
- Myla Toole, Xavier, cross country
- Reagan Whatley, Trinity (Texas), volleyball
- Ally White, Wittenberg, volleyball
- Leonie Witt, Lake Erie, soccer
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