CLEVELAND - The McLendon Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2025 Postgraduate Scholarship Program. 
 
NACDA is pleased to offer, through the McLendon Foundation:

• Seven (7) $10,000 scholarships for ethnic minorities
• One (1) $10,000 scholarship to a minority candidate from an Arizona-based four-year institution or planning to attend a graduate school in Arizona.
• One (1) fully funded spot for an ethnic minority candidate into UMass Amherst's Mark H. McCormack top-ranked graduate program.
• Two (2) $10,000 scholarships to ethnic minority/female graduates of CIAA schools -new this year!

The awards are in addition to any other awards or scholarships the student may have already received. 

To be considered for a McLendon Postgraduate Scholarship, applicants must: 

1. Plan to pursue a master's degree (in the United States) in a field that will lead to a career in the sports industry; OR be currently enrolled full-time but not have graduated before September 2025.
   • The award must be used within 5 years of receipt. 
   • If applying to the UMass/McCormack program, applicants must plan to enroll in Fall 2025.
   • If applying to the CIAA Scholarship, applicants must plan to enroll in Summer/Fall 2025 or Spring 2026.
2. Have a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent in the undergraduate curriculum.  If enrolled in graduate school, the current graduate GPA will not be considered.
3. Identify as one of the following:
   • Black -- All persons having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
   • Hispanic -- All persons of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish culture of origin, regardless of race.
   • Asian or Pacific Islander -- All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent or the Pacific Islands.  This area includes, for example, China, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands and Samoa.
   • American Indian or Alaskan Native -- All persons having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who maintain cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community recognition.    
   • Note: The CIAA Scholarship is open to Women and Minority graduate of CIAA schools.   
4. Submit a personal essay (1,200 words max) explaining: 
   • What personal experiences have shaped your leadership style, and how will you use those experiences to inspire and lead others in the sports industry?
   • How can the McLendon Foundation help you achieve your dreams and support your journey in the sports and entertainment industry?
5. Submit a resume

CLICK HERE to apply for the 2025 McLendon Postgraduate Scholarship. The application deadline is Saturday, February 1. 
 
For more information about the McLendon Foundation or the Postgraduate Scholarship Program please contact Foundation Assistant Director Ishita Tibrewal (itibrewal@nacda.com) in the NACDA National Office. 

About the McLendon Foundation: The McLendon Foundation, established in 1999, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded and administered by NACDA. The Foundation honors the legacy of Hall of Fame coach John McLendon who was a pioneer in the field of athletics, the game of basketball, and the civil rights arena. Its mission is to create access and opportunities for historically excluded talent who aspire to impact the sports industry. The Foundation is committed to empowering and developing the next generation of executive leaders in sports through financial resources, a robust educational curriculum and an engaged community of principled leaders. All organizational planning for the Foundation directly aligns with the values of Coach McLendon: Integrity, Education, Leadership and Mentorship. More information regarding the McLendon Foundation can be found at minorityleaders.org, McLendon Foundation's LinkedIn Page and @McLendonScholar. 

About the McCormack Department of Sport Management: The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the few sport management programs housed within a business school: the Isenberg School of Management. U.S. News & World Report ranks Isenberg as a Top 20 public undergraduate business school, while its online MBA is ranked #5 in the world by Financial Times (2023). The Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management is one of the oldest such programs in the world, and the program's network includes more than 4,000 sport industry alumni, featuring leaders and innovators within every segment of the commercial sports industry. The department has one of the top undergraduate programs in the country, and its graduate program – consisting of master's (MS) level as well as dual-degree (MBA/MS) concentrations – is currently ranked #1 in the world by industry standard Sport Business.
 
For more information, visit the McCormack Department's program page and follow our student-centric educational experience on the department's LinkedIn page.

About the Fiesta Bowl: The Fiesta Bowl's vision is to be a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans. As a nonprofit organization, it believes in the importance of community outreach and service. Through charitable giving, the organization strives to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that contribute to the success of communities through youth, sports and education. Since 1971, the Fiesta Bowl has worked to increase its footprint across the state and work to benefit Arizonans year-round, during and outside of bowl season. For more information about its local impact and how to get involved, visit FiestaBowl.org. 

About the CIAA: Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. In 2020, the conference celebrated the special 75th anniversary of its Championship Basketball Tournament - an event that has become a must-see in the African American community. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.

Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University.
 
About NACDA: NACDA, now in its 60th year, is the professional and educational Association for more than 12,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 6,500 athletics administrators annually attend NACDA & Affiliates Convention Week. Additionally, NACDA manages 18 professional associations and three foundations. For more information on NACDA, visit www.nacda.com.