The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Elaine Simon Named C-USA Postgraduate Scholarship Winner
6/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
IRVING, Texas – Recent graduate Elaine Simon of the UAB women’s tennis team has been named one of 14 recipients of the Conference USA Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship Award, as announced by league Commissioner Judy MacLeod on Monday.
This is the eighth year the award has been named for Dr. Castañeda, who served Rice University for 46 years as an educator, coach and Faculty Athletics Representative before he passed away in November 2008. The conference annually awards the $4,000 Postgraduate Scholarships to graduates as selected by the C‐USA Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Board of Directors.
“Elaine continues to represent our program in the best light,” head coach Mark Tjia said. “It is such an honor to receive this postgraduate scholarship and we are so proud of her. We are excited to follow her career and know she will be successful in whatever path she chooses. Luckily, we will see her around for at least another year as she continues her education at UAB, and we know she will stay close to our program.”
Simon graduated with her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with Spanish and chemistry minors as a member of the University Honors Program. A native of Monroe, Louisiana, she was a four‐time member of the C‐USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and was named to the Dean’s List three semesters.
Simon and her teammates on the Blazers' women’s tennis team held the highest team GPA on campus during the past two seasons. Simon plans to remain at UAB to pursue a master’s in biomedical and health sciences.
On the court, Simon played second singles and first doubles for the Blazers as a senior. In doubles, she and teammate Pardis Kianoush played to an overall record of 12-8 in spring competition, including a record of 8-8 on court one and 4-0 on court two.
2016 JIM CASTAÑEDA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:
Alexis Betancourt, Softball, Charlotte

Robin Spiegel, Men’s Soccer, FIU

Derek Moise, Football, Florida Atlantic

Diamond Every, Women’s Track & Field, Louisiana Tech
Jack Hopkins, Men’s Soccer, Marshall
Nayara Moraes, Women’s Tennis, Middle Tennessee
Kedron Sowells, Men’s Track & Field, North Texas
Edwin Logan Teal, Men’s Swimming, Old Dominion
Solomiya Zinko, Women’s Tennis, Rice
Mary Pursell, Volleyball, Southern Miss
Elaine Simon, Women’s Tennis, UAB
Cameasha Turner, Women’s Basketball, UTEP
Carly Neal, Women’s Soccer, UTSA
Rachel Engle, Volleyball, WKU
