Elizabeth Cervantes-Vanderlugt Receives C-USA Postgraduate Scholarship
DALLAS, TX – Conference USA has honored ten outstanding individuals with the prestigious Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship, among them Elizabeth Cervantes-Vanderlugt from New Mexico State University. Cervantes-Vanderlugt, an accomplished swimmer and former team captain, made her mark over four seasons with the Aggies and is recognized as the sole recipient from NM State this year.
Named in memory of Dr. Jim Castañeda, who dedicated 46 years to Rice University as an educator and coach before passing away in 2008, this scholarship awards $4,000 annually to deserving graduates across the conference.
A two-time captain of NM State’s swimming team, Cervantes-Vanderlugt excelled in multiple events, notably the 50 free, 100 free, and 100 back. Her recent achievements include being a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and earning a place on the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Cervantes-Vanderlugt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management, supplemented by minors in Spanish, counseling, and educational psychology. This fall, she will begin her MBA in finance at NM State.
In her senior season, she led the Aggies to their best performance yet, culminating in eight dual meet victories and a strong second-place finish at the conference championship.
Upon receiving the scholarship, Cervantes-Vanderlugt expressed her gratitude: "I’m both honored and grateful for this support as I continue to pursue my academic goals. I appreciate New Mexico State’s commitment to student-athletes."
The C-USA also named other recipients from various institutions, demonstrating the league’s dedication to academic excellence in athletics. For updates on NM State Swimming & Diving, fans can follow their social media channels and website.
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