Michigan State University Athletics
Hjorth, Edwards Earn B1G Postgraduate Scholarships
6/24/2026 3:30:00 PM | Football, General, Women's Soccer
East Lansing, Mich. -- Michigan State women's soccer student-athlete Taya Hjorth (Commerce Township, Mich.) and football student-athlete Sam Edwards (Williamston, Mich.) have been named the recipients of Big Ten Conference Postgraduate Scholarships. Each year, the conference office provides two student-athletes from each of the 18 Big Ten institutions with a $7,500 scholarship, based primarily on academic achievements. The award is given to athletes who plan to continue their education in a graduate degree program.
Each Big Ten institution developed its own on-campus selection process when awarding the scholarships. Student-athletes must have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point average (GPA), demonstrated leadership qualities, served as an excellent role model and intended to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree at a graduate degree program.
A team captain, four-year letterwinner (2022-25) and six-year player (2020-25) at Michigan State, Sam Edwards played 41 career games for the Spartans, including all 12 in his final three seasons of eligibility.
Edwards earned two undergraduate degrees from MSU's prestigious James Madison College in 2024: Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy (PTCD) as well as in International Relations, with a minor in political economy. He was James Madison's Jack Chapin Prize recipient, acknowledging the outstanding graduating senior in PTCD. He also earned his MS from MSU's Broad College of Business in Marketing Research and Analytics.
Edwards was appointed as a student-athlete representative on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in 2025, which is the highest ranking governing body for Division I: he became just the fourth-ever football player to serve on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and the first on the newly constituted DI Board after the NCAA governance model restructuring in August 2025. Most recently, Edwards was named the 2026 recipient of Michigan State's Chester L. Brewer Award, given to a graduating senior for distinguished performance in athletics and scholarship, and for possessing a high degree of character, personality, competitive spirit and other leadership qualities which forecast a successful future.
He is a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and four-time Distinguished Scholar pick, with a fifth Distinguished Scholar recognition expected this summer. He boasted a 3.9 or better GPA as both an undergrad and in his graduate work, selected to the Dean's List every semester. Edwards was also a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is considered the nation's premier scholar-athlete award in college football, by the National Football Foundation. In addition, he helped with numerous community events throughout his time in East Lansing, including the student-athlete food drive, Beautiful Lives Project, Jack Breslin/McLaren Golf Classic volunteer, March is Reading Month, Be the Match – Bone Marrow Registry, peer tutoring service, visits to the Sparrow Hospital pediatric ward, and Teams for Toys.
Hjorth graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Education (Kinesiology/Exercise Science) from the University of Kentucky prior to coming to East Lansing in the fall of 2024. While at MSU, she earned her master's degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise physiology with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is currently pursuing a master's in physician assistant studies at Charleston Southern University.
On the field, Hjorth played on the Spartan back line, where in 2025 MSU was fielding a pair of freshman keepers. The MSU defense surrendered just 1.15 goals per game last year, allowing just 4.68 shots on goal per game (and under 10 shot attempts per contest).
An Academic All-Big Ten selection in the fall who will also earn Big Ten Distinguished Scholars this summer, Hjorth earned varsity letters in 2024 and 2025 with the Spartans after two seasons at Kentucky, where she was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection and made the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice. Hjorth's veteran presence helped Michigan State to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2024 and a run to the national quarterfinals (round of eight) in 2025, MSU's furthest NCAA Tournament run in program history. She served as a representative on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was an athlete-to-athlete mentor, volunteering as a coach with the Michigan Jaguars, and with the HOPE Community food delivery and Orchard Grove Community Church.
Each Big Ten institution developed its own on-campus selection process when awarding the scholarships. Student-athletes must have maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point average (GPA), demonstrated leadership qualities, served as an excellent role model and intended to continue their academic work beyond their baccalaureate degree at a graduate degree program.
A team captain, four-year letterwinner (2022-25) and six-year player (2020-25) at Michigan State, Sam Edwards played 41 career games for the Spartans, including all 12 in his final three seasons of eligibility.Edwards earned two undergraduate degrees from MSU's prestigious James Madison College in 2024: Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy (PTCD) as well as in International Relations, with a minor in political economy. He was James Madison's Jack Chapin Prize recipient, acknowledging the outstanding graduating senior in PTCD. He also earned his MS from MSU's Broad College of Business in Marketing Research and Analytics.
Edwards was appointed as a student-athlete representative on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in 2025, which is the highest ranking governing body for Division I: he became just the fourth-ever football player to serve on the NCAA Division I Board of Directors and the first on the newly constituted DI Board after the NCAA governance model restructuring in August 2025. Most recently, Edwards was named the 2026 recipient of Michigan State's Chester L. Brewer Award, given to a graduating senior for distinguished performance in athletics and scholarship, and for possessing a high degree of character, personality, competitive spirit and other leadership qualities which forecast a successful future.
He is a five-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and four-time Distinguished Scholar pick, with a fifth Distinguished Scholar recognition expected this summer. He boasted a 3.9 or better GPA as both an undergrad and in his graduate work, selected to the Dean's List every semester. Edwards was also a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is considered the nation's premier scholar-athlete award in college football, by the National Football Foundation. In addition, he helped with numerous community events throughout his time in East Lansing, including the student-athlete food drive, Beautiful Lives Project, Jack Breslin/McLaren Golf Classic volunteer, March is Reading Month, Be the Match – Bone Marrow Registry, peer tutoring service, visits to the Sparrow Hospital pediatric ward, and Teams for Toys.
Hjorth graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Education (Kinesiology/Exercise Science) from the University of Kentucky prior to coming to East Lansing in the fall of 2024. While at MSU, she earned her master's degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in exercise physiology with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is currently pursuing a master's in physician assistant studies at Charleston Southern University. On the field, Hjorth played on the Spartan back line, where in 2025 MSU was fielding a pair of freshman keepers. The MSU defense surrendered just 1.15 goals per game last year, allowing just 4.68 shots on goal per game (and under 10 shot attempts per contest).
An Academic All-Big Ten selection in the fall who will also earn Big Ten Distinguished Scholars this summer, Hjorth earned varsity letters in 2024 and 2025 with the Spartans after two seasons at Kentucky, where she was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection and made the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice. Hjorth's veteran presence helped Michigan State to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2024 and a run to the national quarterfinals (round of eight) in 2025, MSU's furthest NCAA Tournament run in program history. She served as a representative on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was an athlete-to-athlete mentor, volunteering as a coach with the Michigan Jaguars, and with the HOPE Community food delivery and Orchard Grove Community Church.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
D
/ Women's SoccerMonday, June 15
Friday, December 05
Monday, September 15
Monday, September 15