Ally White Earns Prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
In four years as a Wittenberg University student, Ally White ’26 has pretty much done it all. Her exploits on the volleyball court have been matched by outstanding performance in the classroom, a combination of excellence that has led to special recognition from the NCAA.
White, a double major in communication and digital media and marketing with a sport management minor, was recently announced as a 2026 recipient of a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The first Wittenberg recipient of this scholarship in seven years and just the ninth since 1996, White will receive a $10,000 one-time award to be put toward future postgraduate studies.
The NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was created in 1964 to encourage graduate education by rewarding top-performing student-athletes by providing a one-time scholarship award. Up to 126 scholarships are awarded each year—split evenly between men and women—across the fall, winter and spring sport seasons.
White joins a prestigious list of past Wittenberg recipients: Scott Schwartz (1996, men’s basketball), Kent Rafey (1998, football), Dawn Reinhardt (1999, women’s volleyball), Skip Ivery (2004, football/track), Corey Stump (2016, football), Emily Kahlig (2017, women’s volleyball), Macy Hubbard (2017, women’s golf), and Nathan Matthews (2019, men’s volleyball).
“Ally is the kind of student-athlete every coach hopes to have,” said Wittenberg Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Evelyn Miller. “She is driven, compassionate, and genuine.
“Ally has consistently turned challenges into opportunities for growth, showing resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment. Earning the postgraduate scholarship is a true reflection of everything she has accomplished. This is just the beginning for her!”
A four-year letterwinner and three-year starter at libero for Wittenberg Women’s Volleyball, White earned a pair of All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) awards in her career: third team in 2025 and first team in 2024. A three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District honoree, White led the team in digs each of the last three seasons and the NCAC in the category in 2024 and 2025.
Wittenberg Women’s Volleyball won two NCAC regular season championships and three NCAC Tournament titles during White’s four years on the team, and the Tigers competed in the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2022, 2023 and 2025, advancing to the second round in her senior season. The Tigers compiled a tremendous four-year record of 77-39 overall and 24-4 in NCAC regular season matches during that time.
White has racked up an impressive list of academic awards as well. A member of the University’s Honors Program, she earned the Dr. Woodrow Wilson Prize for Excellence in Business in 2025 and the Laurels in Communication Award from the Department of Communication and Digital Media in 2026, in addition to induction into the Chi Alpha Sigma student-athlete honorary. White also was one of 10 finalists for the Alma Lux Award in 2025, one of the most prestigious annual awards given at Wittenberg to honor junior students who possess qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service.
White has also participated in leadership opportunities and activities at Wittenberg, including student-work focused on social media and graphic design for Athletics Communications and Tiger Ventures, the University’s “business incubator” that creates real world business experiences on campus. And she participated in a summer internship at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, in 2025 where she worked with the sponsorship team.
“My experience at Wittenberg has prepared me for receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship through a strong balance of academics, athletics, and leadership opportunities,” White said. “Whether it has been the business department, the women's volleyball team, the University Honors Program, or Tiger Ventures - all of these groups and organizations have taught me valuable lessons in my four years.
“Outside the classroom and court, internships with organizations like the Pro Football Hall of Fame allowed me to apply my skills in real-world settings, strengthening my passion for the sports industry. Together, these experiences have shaped me into the student-athlete I am and have prepared me for success in graduate school and beyond.”
Written By: Ryan Maurer