Stacie Townsend (Image: Jeff Taylor)

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP’s Stacie Townsend was one of the 12 student-athletes to receive the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship as announced by league officials Tuesday morning.

The award is named after a long time employee of Rice University, Jim Castañeda, who served as an educator, coach, and Faculty Athletics Representative for 46 years before he passed away in 2008.

A four-year letter winner for the Miners Townsend excelled not only on the field but in her academic achievements. Townsend earned the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first-team honors as well as being named the 2010 Golden Miner of the Year. After re-writing the UTEP record books this season with her stellar pitching and hitting performances, Townsend was named All-Conference USA first team, Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I Athlete of the Week and NCFA All-Midwest honors.

Townsend plans to continue her education with an MBA degree at UTEP or Law School at Oxford University.

The Postgraduate Scholarship recipients are chosen by the C-USA Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Board of Directors. The scholarship is $4,000 dollars and is awarded to graduates annually.