UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, N.Y. — University at Buffalo women’s soccer midfielder Julia Benati was announced as a recipient of an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Benati joined 57 other fall student-athletes from across all three levels of the NCAA to earn the award.
“We could not be more proud of Jules and all that she has accomplished during her time here at UB,” stated head coach Shawn Burke. “She epitomizes hard work, dedication, passion and perseverance and is so deserving of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award.”
After a successful career on the pitch and in the classroom, Benati became the first UB women’s soccer student-athlete to receive the NCAA postgraduate scholarship in program history.
Benati wrapped up her senior campaign earning First Team All-MAC honors as she posted her best season in a Buffalo uniform. The Dorchester, Ontario native started 19 games while netting a career-best seven goals, four assists and 18 points while notching 63 shots on the season. She closed out her UB career recording 11 points over her final eight matches in the blue and white.
For her career, Benati appeared in 76 matches while ranking 12th all-time in assists (13), 14th in points (49) and 15th in goals (18). She also recorded 197 shots in her career to go along with eight game-winning goals.
In the classroom, Benati is an exercise science major with a 3.99 GPA. She was awarded earlier this season with Academic All-MAC honors for the third straight season and she also earned CoSIDA Academic All-District team honors for the first time in her career.
To qualify, student-athletes must excel academically and athletically, be in their final year of eligibility and plan to pursue graduate study. Student-athletes must also maintain at least a 3.2 grade-point average and be nominated by their institution’s faculty athletics representative. Created in 1964, NCAA postgraduate scholarships promote and encourage education by rewarding the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes.
The NCAA awards up to 175 postgraduate scholarships annually. Awardees are evaluated on their academic and athletic achievement, campus involvement, community service, volunteer activities and demonstrated leadership. The program rewards college athletes whose dedication and effort reflect the characteristics needed to succeed in graduate study.
The one-time non-renewable scholarships of $7,500 are awarded three times a year corresponding to each sport season (fall, winter and spring). Awardees are chosen by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, which includes faculty athletics representatives, athletics administrators and a conference commissioner.
