Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech women’s basketball’s Autumn Smith was selected as one of 10 recipients for the Conference USA Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship, as announced by the league office on Thursday.
Smith recently graduated from Louisiana Tech with her bachelor’s in biology with a pre-med concentration while maintaining a 3.54 GPA. She is a four-time CUSA Honor Roll recipient and a 2021-22 CUSA Academic Medalist. She plans to continue her education in a physician’s assistant program.
The Arlington, Texas, native is a four-year member of the Lady Techsters and appeared in 82 games. She shot 34.4 percent from the field and 32.6 from long range for her career. She had a career-high 15 points on 5-6 shooting from three in a win over Central Baptist on December 19 during her senior year.
This 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.
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
