INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- UT Tyler men's tennis standout Kevin Wright was among just a handful of male student-athletes across the country to be awarded an elite NCAA spring sports postgraduate scholarship, the association has announced.

In all, 29 male and 29 female spring sports student-athletes each receive $7,500. Similar awards are given each year to fall and spring student-athletes, totaling just 174 individual winners each year. 

A four-year starter for the Patriots, Wright is a native of College Station, Texas, and earned a degree in finance this spring. He will pursue advanced degrees in finance at the Mays Business School at Texas A&M.

To qualify, student-athletes must excel academically and athletically, be in their final year of eligibility and plan to pursue graduate study. Student-athletes must also maintain at least a 3.2 grade-point average and be nominated by their institution’s faculty athletics representative.

In 2011-12, Wright wrapped up his accomplished career as a Patriot by helping lead the UT Tyler men to the American Southwest Conference title, playing at No. 3 singles and No. 2 doubles. He was selected to the All-ASC First Team and the East Division First Team. Wright was honored this season with the Wilson/ITA West Region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award. He has also been named to the ASC All-Academic team numerous times.

This is the second time in three years that a student-athlete from UT Tyler has been awarded the postgraduate scholarship. In 2010, Nick Kreines, also a member of the men's tennis team, received the honor as well.  

Created in 1964, NCAA postgraduate scholarships promote and encourage education by rewarding the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes.