INDIANAPOLIS --- Hardin-Simmons volleyball player Kaela Parnell has been awarded one of the 29 women’s fall sport NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships.

She was one of only eight Division III student-athletes to claim one of the $7,500 scholarships. The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to promote and encourage postgraduate education by rewarding the Association's most accomplished student-athletes through their participation in NCAA championship and/or emerging sports. Athletics and academic achievements, as well as campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership, are evaluated.

An equitable approach is employed in reviewing each applicant's nomination form to provide opportunity to all student-athlete nominees to receive the postgraduate award, regardless of sport, division, gender or race. In maintaining the highest broad-based standards in the selection process, the program aims to reward those individuals whose dedication and effort are reflective of those characteristics necessary to succeed and thrive through postgraduate study in an accredited graduate degree program.

Parnell was a standout for the Hardin-Simmons volleyball program as she is the all-time leader in kills and in 2008 became the school’s first All-American. She was the 2009 ASC West player of the year.

“It is exciting to receive this award,” said Parnell. “It will help pay for my medical school that I hope to start in the fall.”

Parnell has a 4.0 GPA as a pre-med/Biology major and will graduate this spring.

-Courtesy Hardin-Simmons University Sports Infortmation Department