Gardner-Webb Students Invited to Apply for Big South/Sunbelt Scholarships

Applications Accepted Until April 11th for 14th Annual Awards

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – Once again, Big South Corporate Partner Sunbelt Rentals is offering scholarships to Big South students entering their final semesters as an undergraduate.  Applications for the scholarship are now being accepted on www.BigSouthSports.com  under the “Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship” tab on the home page, which also includes the criteria for the award.  The deadline for applications is Tuesday, April 11, 2023.

To qualify, students must be enrolled in a Big South member institution and be entering their final semesters as an undergraduate. The scholarship recognizes students of underrepresented populations including women, minorities, disabled students, as well as current and former military personnel. Two scholarship recipients will be awarded $4,000 from Sunbelt Rentals, with the scholarship applied to expenses associated with their final semesters as an undergraduate. A committee of Big South Conference officials, representatives from member institutions and Sunbelt Rentals executives selects the recipients of the scholarships.

“The Big South is excited to continue the Sunbelt Rentals Minority Scholarship for the 14th consecutive year as a means of recognizing the work done in the classroom, campus, and the community by students within the Big South Conference,” said Kelsey Houser, account executive for the Big South Conference. “Sunbelt has been a great partner to the Big South and given over $120,000 in scholarship funds. We look forward to this continued partnership and the opportunities it provides to our students.”

Interested applicants can download the application form and view award criteria via one of the following ways:

·        Click on bigsouthsports.com/sunbeltscholarship

·        Click on the “Fan Zone” tab on BigSouthSports.com, and look for “Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship”

·        Scroll to the bottom of BigSouthSports.com and click on the Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship Program image

In the fall of 2008, Sunbelt Rentals in partnership with the Big South Conference established the Sunbelt Rentals Scholarship as a means of recognizing the work done in the classroom, campus, and the community by students within the Big South Conference.

Previous Gardner-Webb winners include Courtney Finocchiaro (2012) and Jennifer Escalera (2022).

DeLand, Fla. native Finocchiaro, a golfer, was named to the Big South All-Academic Teams (2011-12), played in 11 of 12 tournaments her senior year; she was also the Runnin’ Bulldogs top golfer in three tournaments during that time. She was placed on the Big South’s Presidential Honor Roll for her entire collegiate career (2008-2012).

Escalera is a redshirt junior distance runner with Gardner-Webb Track & Field and Cross Country. The Rutherfordton, N.C., native competes in the 1,500-meter, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter events in track for the Runnin’ Bulldogs. She represented GWU in each of the past three Big South Conference Cross Country Championships.

Gardner-Webb has been a full member of the Big South Conference since 2008.

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.