A few weeks after Krista Kolbinskie graduates from the University of Arkansas on May 12, she will attend the 2018 NCAA Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis. She won the 2018-19 NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Graduate Scholarship, which will not only fund the trip but also assist with graduate school tuition.

She said she was honored and privileged to receive the award.

"This scholarship will undoubtedly help fund my one year of graduate school; but, more importantly, it will give me an opportunity to share my testimony and offer hope to the aspiring athlete who is willing to work hard to turn an opportunity into their own success story," Kolbinskie said.

She grew up in San Antonio and committed to the University of Arkansas to play volleyball, which she did in her freshman and senior years. She will earn a bachelor's degree in recreation and sport management with departmental honors. Her faculty mentor is Steve Dittmore, associate professor, and her honors thesis was titled "The Role Social Media Plays in the College Recruiting Process." She minored in journalism.

Kolbinskie plans to pursue a master's degree in sports administration at St. Thomas University in Miami and use her last year of eligibility to play court volleyball in the fall and sand volleyball in the spring.

Her long-term goals include plans to build a career in the business world of sports administration.

"Having been an athlete since age 3, I do not see myself pursuing a career in anything that would not revolve around sports or athletes," she said. "The opportunities I have been humbled and privileged to have had throughout my lifetime spiritually, academically, and athletically have set a solid foundation for my future success. I intend on giving back to my community, paying forward all that I have learned, and sharing my life-changing experiences with the young aspiring athletes that I know I'll come in contact with over the course of my career."

The annual Career in Sports Forum hosted by the NCAA is a four-day educational event that brings together 200 selected student-athletes to learn about careers in sports, with a primary focus on intercollegiate athletics. It is designed to assist student-athletes in charting their careers in the business, giving them the opportunity to network and learn from current athletics professionals. 

"I've loved having the opportunity to represent the University of Arkansas as a student-athlete," Kolbinskie said. "I've loved my entire academic career and feel like the University of Arkansas has truly prepared me for what's in store for my future. More than anything, I've loved Fayetteville and the people that made my experience as incredible as it's been. I know it was all a part of God's plan for me to attend the University of Arkansas and am so thankful for every person I crossed paths with and the opportunities I've been given in my time here."

She thanked Julie Cromer, senior associate athletic director of administration and sports programs, and the Arkansas Athletics Scholarships and Awards Committee for nominating her for the graduate scholarship.