CLEVELAND – The McLendon Foundation proudly announces its 26th class of McLendon Scholars, continuing its mission to cultivate the next generation of sports leaders.  As of the 2026-27 academic year, the McLendon Foundation has awarded scholarships to more than 160 deserving students, providing more than $1.85 million in financial support to aspiring leaders pursuing careers across the sports industry.

This year's highly competitive application cycle reflected the growing reach and visibility of the McLendon Foundation. From this impressive pool, 11 exceptional scholars have been selected. The scholars represent a wide range of interests across the sports industry, including athletic administration, student athlete development, marketing, compliance, fundraising, operations, athletic training, and athlete well-being.

"This announcement continues the Foundation's effort to build the talent pipeline for the sports and entertainment industry," said Adrien Harraway, Executive Director of the McLendon Foundation. "These scholars are pursuing meaningful careers that will shape college athletics, professional sports, and the broader sports ecosystem for years to come. We are proud to advance Coach McLendon's legacy by investing in the next generation of leaders."

Through the support of Fiesta Bowl Foundation's endowment commitment to the Foundation, a Postgraduate Scholarship is awarded each year to a student associated with an Arizona-based four-year institution. The McLendon Scholarship, presented by Fiesta Sports Foundation, is being awarded to Jalen Travick, who will attend Arizona State University.

In addition, the Foundation is proud to award McLendon/CIAA Scholarships to Jaide Holliday and Janiah Beach, recognizing the continued partnership between the McLendon Foundation and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association in supporting future leaders in sports. Holliday will attend Virginia Commonwealth University, while Beach will attend North Carolina Central University.

The Foundation is also proud to recognize Betina Bergallo as this year's McLendon-McCormack Scholar. Bergallo will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

The 2026-27 McLendon Scholars are:

 
The McLendon Scholarship Program continues to serve as a cornerstone of the Foundation's mission to create access, opportunity, and career pathways for aspiring leaders across the sports industry.

 
About the McLendon Foundation 
Established in 1999 and administered by NACDA, the McLendon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of sports leaders. Through its scholarship and leadership programs, the Foundation provides educational resources, career opportunities, and a robust network to support aspiring professionals in the sports industry. 
 

About Fiesta Sports Foundation
Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.

  
About the Mark H. 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 #3 in the world by Financial Times (2019). 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.
 
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.