Caroline Shiery (left) became the first Liberty women's basketball player to earn a CUSA Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship.
Shiery Awarded CUSA Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship
6/5/2026 1:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Caroline Shiery became the first Liberty women's basketball player ever to receive the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship, the CUSA office announced on Friday.
This marks the 18th 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.
The lone women's basketball player included among this year's 10 accomplished recipients, Shiery will remain at Liberty to make use of her scholarship. The Harrisburg, Pa., native plans to work as a graduate assistant for student-athlete development while pursuing a master's degree in strategic communications.
Shiery spent four seasons on the Liberty women's basketball team (2022-23 through 2025-26), serving as a team captain this past year.
Shiery was quite active in the community during her time as an undergraduate, racking up more than 250 community service hours. As a result, she was previously honored with the 2026 CUSA Winter Spirit of Service Award.
This marks the 18th 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.
The lone women's basketball player included among this year's 10 accomplished recipients, Shiery will remain at Liberty to make use of her scholarship. The Harrisburg, Pa., native plans to work as a graduate assistant for student-athlete development while pursuing a master's degree in strategic communications.
Shiery spent four seasons on the Liberty women's basketball team (2022-23 through 2025-26), serving as a team captain this past year.
Shiery was quite active in the community during her time as an undergraduate, racking up more than 250 community service hours. As a result, she was previously honored with the 2026 CUSA Winter Spirit of Service Award.
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