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Former Aggie earns $4,000 postgraduate award from Conference USA.
Source: NMSU Athletics
Photo and Story By Matthew Knope for NMSU: Courtesy
DALLAS – Conference USA honored 10 accomplished recipients of the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship on Thursday. The lone recipient from NM State was Elizabeth Cervantes-Vanderlugt, representing the Swimming and Diving program. After four seasons with the Crimson & White, the Aggie graduate was recognized by CUSA as she continues her academic career in her hometown.
2025 marks the 17th year the award has been named after Dr. Jim Castañeda, who served Rice for 46 years as an educator, coach and Faculty Athletics Representative before he passed in 2008. Every season, CUSA grants a $4,000 scholarship to distinguished graduates selected by the league’s Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Conference USA Board of Directors.
A two-year team captain, Cervantes-Vanderlugt competed all four years for the Aggies’ swimming team, racing primarily in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 back. She was also a two-year representative on NM State’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A member of the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the Las Cruces native recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management with minors in Spanish, counseling and educational psychology. Cervantes-Vanderlugt will embark toward an MBA with a concentration in finance at New Mexico State beginning this fall.
As a senior, she wrapped up her collegiate athletic career with the program’s best season to date. The squad racked up eight dual meet victories in 2024-25, including two key rivalry wins; one over Grand Canyon and a drubbing of New Mexico in Albuquerque (197-102). At the conference championship in early March, the squad finished just ahead of GCU and landed in second place for the seventh time since 2010.
Four-year Aggie Elizabeth Cervantes-Vanderlugt, on receiving the scholarship: “I would like to thank Conference USA for awarding me this postgraduate scholarship. I’m both honored and grateful for the support as I continue to pursue my academic goals. I truly appreciate New Mexico State’s confidence in me and its dedication to supporting student-athletes. I am committed to making the most of this opportunity while upholding the values that are important to the program and university.”
2025 Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Mathys Lefebvre, FIU, Men’s Soccer
Hannah Buffington, Jax State, Softball
Tianna Rivera, Kennesaw State, Women’s Soccer
Taiva Reinertson, Liberty, Women’s Lacrosse
Autumn Smith, LA Tech, Women’s Basketball
Kendall Maynard, MTSU, Women’s Golf
Elizabeth Cervantes-Vanderlugt, NM State, Swimming*
Jaylen Phillips, Sam Houston, Football
Ema Uskokovic, UTEP, Volleyball/Beach Volleyball
Brooke Sleeva, WKU, Women’s Soccer
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