Andrews, Gielen Awarded Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships

ROSEMONT, IL — Maryland gymnast Leksana Andrews and men’s soccer player Justin Gielen have been awarded 2022 Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarships. The Big Ten Conference office honors two student-athletes from each of the 14 Big Ten institutions who plan to continue their education at a graduate degree program were each awarded a $7,500 scholarship, based primarily on academic achievements.

Leksana Andrews, a Sandwich, Mass. native, earned a Bachelor of Science in Family Sciences this past spring. She also earned an M Club Postgraduate Scholarship in May. Andrews is a member of the Gossett Fellowship, and the InTERPShip and Student-Athletes Mentorship programs, in addition to being an advocate for the Body Appreciation Movement. Throughout the pandemic and into this year, Andrews has assisted our media relations department with social media, allowing fans all-access content during meets.

Each Big Ten institution developed its own on-campus selection process when awarding the scholarships. Students must have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point-average, demonstrated leadership qualities, served as an excellent role model and intended to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree at a graduate degree program. The scholarship will be used to pay expenses of the student’s postgraduate education to include such related activities as research and teaching, as well as other expenses such as tuition, fees, room and board, required course-related supplies and books. In order to retain the scholarship, the recipient must be accepted into a full-time graduate degree program within three years from the fall semester after selection.