Union is known for its culture of faith and academia. It follows that many of the scholarships awarded also would be based on academics.
The athletic scholarship is one of 14 merit-based scholarships available.
Each year, the university awards $22 million in institutional scholarships, which includes $2.6 million for athletic scholarships – a 12 percent allotment, said Rich Grimm, senior vice president for Enrollment Services.
Union awards 35 merit-based and need-based scholarships.
A merit-based scholarship is awarded when a recipient is a skilled athlete or a skilled student. A need-based scholarship is awarded when a student cannot afford tuition without the help of financial aid.
For athletic scholarships, all sports are included, and the amount awarded varies per player, but athletes usually are awarded based on talent, said David Niven, men’s basketball coach.
How many scholarships are awarded per team also varies.
The basketball team, for instance, receives 10 “full-tuition” scholarships to award. These awards can be divided so that more people receive scholarships.
Union athletes may receive other merit-based and need-based scholarships.
Cara Snowden, junior history major and soccer player, received $1,750 per semester this school year after her high school coach and pastor wrote references when she applied.
Usually, each team has a certain number of scholarships to award. Total amount given to each sport is determined by the division that it falls under.
Niven said the basketball program can award 10 full scholarships.
In addition to being a member of the NCAA, Union also is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association and the Gulf South Conference.
Bryce Doughty, junior education major and member of the men’s golf team, said he receives $12,500 for the year.
His team of nine players splits the 4.5 “full-tuition” scholarships allotted by the NCAA. The portion of that scholarship received is based on talent and performance and is left to the coach’s discretion to distribute.
“Coach gives out what he believes you are worth,” Doughty said. “Every year usually increases with seniority.”
In addition, members of the golf team usually were able to pocket surplus scholarship funds in the past, Doughty said.
This pocketing of additional scholarship funds ended as the men’s golf team transitioned to NCAA rules. NCAA guidelines stipulate that players cannot receive payments of any sort to play for the college.
Pedro Faller, sophomore business major and member of the men’s basketball team, has received a full scholarship throughout all four years.
“It’s basically by talent,” Faller said. “They watch your high school tapes and offer you a scholarship based on your potential.”
Full-ride athletic scholarships are not limited to undergraduates. Beth Wilson is working on her master’s degree in business administration.
“[Coach Johnson] asked if I would consider running for Union’s cross country team in exchange for a graduate degree,” said Wilson, who had been running for six months at the time. “Who can say no to that? [My husband] and I talked it over and decided we had nothing to lose.”
For many athletes, playing on a collegiate team means giving up other on-campus involvement. Athletes can devote up to 30 hours a week to practice, treatment for injuries, traveling and games.
Participating in a sport requires work comparable to that of a job, said Paul Valdor, junior international business major and member of the men’s basketball team.
“We have to work twice as hard as normal students,” Valdor said. “Sometimes we do homework on the bus or in the hotel. If we come back at 3 in the morning, we just have to stay up to do homework.”
Athletes also sometimes cope with injury, said softball pitcher Kelly Robey, sophomore sports management major.
“Pitching puts so much wear-and-tear on your body,” Robey said. “For example, I have trouble with my hips, elbow and shoulder.”
Being a member of a team makes the sacrifices well worth it, Snowden said.
“The relationships I had with the girls made everything worth it,” Snowden said. “Also, the support from our coaches was unlike any other I’ve ever experienced in sports.”
Robey agrees.
“I get to spend my time playing the game I love, and I get to spend it with my 22 best friends. We are a sisterhood, we do everything together. I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Robey said. “People always say that college friendships will last a lifetime, and I completely believe that because I have made some of the best friends a girl could have. We play, live, bleed, cry and laugh together.”
