Three Trinity Student-Athletes Awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships

Three Trinity University senior student-athletes have received prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships to continue their educations in graduate school.

Luke Chandler '26, Ilsa Newland '26, and Reagan Whatley '26 were among 42 student-athletes across the NCAA, including 19 Division III players, to receive the $10,000 awards based on their academic and athletic success. Trinity and Johns Hopkins University were the only school with three student-athlete awards. This was the first year Trinity had three winners; 13 Trinity student-athletes have received the award in the last seven years.

"The best part about being the NCAA Faculty Athletic Rep (FAR) for Trinity University is the opportunity to help shine a spotlight on our amazing, multi-talented students," said Jacob Tingle, Ed.E. '95, Trinity's program director for Sport Management and associate professor in business administration.

These awards are in addition to the NCAA Jim McKay Graduate Scholarship for postgraduate student won this year by Thomas Melina Raab '26, a member of Trinity's cross country and track and field programs.

Luke Chandler

Chandler, a neuroscience major and a chemistry minor, is a defender on the Tiger men's soccer team. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Chandler came to Trinity without visiting or knowing much about Trinity's academic and athletic status.

Chandler scored Trinity's only goal in the 2025 NCAA national championship match, something he said "I will never forget, and I'm grateful for Trinity's program enabling me to perform at such a high level."

Chandler has been accepted into University College London for a master's degree in neuroscience.

Ilsa Newland

Newland is majoring in engineering science and minoring in math and physics. She is a defender and a cornerstone for the Tiger women's soccer team. "Trinity has been the best decision of my life," Newland said. "I am especially grateful for my teammates who really made this year special. Trinity is a great school academically and athletically, but it's the community that makes it special," she said

Newland is taking a gap year to continue playing soccer in Europe, after which she will apply to doctorate programs in biomedical engineering.

Reagan Whatley

Whatley is a neuroscience major and outside hitter and captain for Trinity's volleyball team. Whatley was also Trinity volleyball's first College Sports Communicators Academic All-American, highlighting her excellence in the classroom alongside her athletic achievements.

"I chose Trinity because it offered competitive volleyball at a smaller school where academics come first," she said.

Whatley plans to take a gap year after graduation, then apply to physician assistant schools.