University of Tennessee Athletics
Bender Earns NCAA Women’s Enhancement Graduate Scholarship
April 22, 2022 | Softball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee softball redshirt senior Samantha Bender has been awarded the NCAA Women's Enhancement Graduate Scholarship, the organization announced this week. A right-handed pitcher from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Bender is one of 13 female college graduates to receive the endowment.
The Women's Enhancement and Ethnic Minority Graduate Scholarship were developed by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee. The goal of the enhancement programs is to increase the pool of and opportunities for qualified female and minority candidates in intercollegiate athletics through graduate scholarships.
The NCAA awards $10,000 to 13 female college athletes and 13 ethnic minorities 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.
Bender is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and is set to complete her bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a minor in leadership studies next month. She was also a member of the 2020-21 VOLeaders Academy 6.0 cohort and traveled to Belize in the summer of 2021 for a cultural immersion experience.
In her third year at Tennessee and fifth year as a Division I softball player, she has made 55 career appearances with 20 starts, three complete games and 72 strikeouts. Bender tossed her first career no-hitter last season, spinning five innings with a pair of Ks against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 28, 2021, as the Lady Vols run-ruled the Norse, 8-0.
This marks the second-straight year a Tennessee softball athlete has received a scholarship on either arm of the enhancement program. Graduate outfielder Amanda Ayala received the Ethnic Minority Graduate Scholarship in 2021 and is currently pursuing her master's in kinesiology with a sport psychology and motor behavior concentration.
For more information on the NCAA Women's Enhancement and Ethnic Minority Graduate Scholarships, visit NCAA.org.
The Women's Enhancement and Ethnic Minority Graduate Scholarship were developed by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee. The goal of the enhancement programs is to increase the pool of and opportunities for qualified female and minority candidates in intercollegiate athletics through graduate scholarships.
The NCAA awards $10,000 to 13 female college athletes and 13 ethnic minorities 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.
Bender is a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll and is set to complete her bachelor's degree in kinesiology with a minor in leadership studies next month. She was also a member of the 2020-21 VOLeaders Academy 6.0 cohort and traveled to Belize in the summer of 2021 for a cultural immersion experience.
In her third year at Tennessee and fifth year as a Division I softball player, she has made 55 career appearances with 20 starts, three complete games and 72 strikeouts. Bender tossed her first career no-hitter last season, spinning five innings with a pair of Ks against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 28, 2021, as the Lady Vols run-ruled the Norse, 8-0.
This marks the second-straight year a Tennessee softball athlete has received a scholarship on either arm of the enhancement program. Graduate outfielder Amanda Ayala received the Ethnic Minority Graduate Scholarship in 2021 and is currently pursuing her master's in kinesiology with a sport psychology and motor behavior concentration.
For more information on the NCAA Women's Enhancement and Ethnic Minority Graduate Scholarships, visit NCAA.org.
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