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Kentucky baseball senior graduate Patrick Herrera has earned one of the NCAA’s coveted postgraduate scholarships for the spring sports. He will receive $10,000 to utilize toward funding graduate studies.
The NCAA awards 42 such scholarships to student-athletes, representing spring sports across all three NCAA divisions, have demonstrated remarkable academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities.
Each year, the NCAA awards 126 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes who have completed their final year of athletics competition. The scholarships are distributed three times annually — in the fall, winter and spring — providing 21 scholarships each to men and women per season. The award is a one-time, nonrenewable scholarship aimed at funding graduate study at an accredited institution.
Established in 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program promotes and encourages graduate education by recognizing the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes. The program evaluates candidates on their athletic and academic achievements, campus involvement, community service and leadership. An equitable selection process ensures that all nominees, regardless of sport, division, gender or race, are considered fairly.
Herrera completed his career last month. In 2025, he batted .288 in 52 games with 38 runs, seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, 34 RBI, 29 walks, 17 HBP and 14 stolen bases. He tallied 104 hits in his career, which began at Northwestern for a season. He also was inducted into UK’s prestigious Frank G. Ham Society of Character last year.
