María Belén Vendrell of Converse Chosen 2021-22 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award Winner
GREENVILLE, S.C. - María Belén Vendrell of Converse has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious 2021-22 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award.
The Murphy Osborne Award is Conference Carolinas' Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award.
A senior on the women’s tennis team at Converse from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Vendrell owns an impressive 3.99 grade-point average as a double major with a minor. She is currently working toward a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business and a Bachelor of Science in Economics. She is minoring in Hispanic Studies.
A dean’s list member all of her semesters at Converse, Vendrell has also been named an Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team award winner for her entire time on campus. She has also helped the Converse women’s tennis team achieve the highest team GPA on campus for the past three semesters.
Conference Carolinas’ Elite 23 award winner in the 2020-21 season, Vendrell holds Converse’s record for number of doubles wins and the school record for doubles winning percentage. She is on pace to be the all-time winningest player in school history in singles and doubles.
An all-conference selection in the 2020-21 season, Vendrell has played at No. 1 singles the last two seasons. She has also served as team captain during her junior and senior campaigns.
Vendrell has volunteered in numerous capacities during her time at Converse, including serving as a member of the Diversity Committee and the Student-Athlete Leadership Council. She is currently serving as the Student Government Association Executive Committee Treasurer at Converse. In addition, Vendrell has participated in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and entertained foster children through tennis. She has worked with a local church in Spartanburg for a winter coat drive and walked with local elementary school students to school to form community connections along with many other community service endeavors.
Student-Athletes are nominated by their institutions for the Murphy Osborne Award based on their academic, athletic and service accomplishments. The Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from all Conference Carolinas institutions submit institutional nominations and votes are cast by the FARs.
To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be a December or May graduating senior or a first-year graduate student completing athletic eligibility at the same institution as undergraduate matriculation. The student-athlete must be a full-time student at the time of nomination, must have been a full-time student at the member school for at least two years and must be a starter or important substitute in a conference sport.
The award is named for longtime educator and college and university administrator Dr. Murphy Osborne.
2021-22 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award Winner
María Belén Vendrell, Converse
2021-22 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award Finalists
Jami Tham, Barton
Lauren Hamilton, Belmont Abbey
Patrick Krack, Chowan
María Belén Vendrell, Converse
Aleah Hylton, Emmanuel
Josh Arrowood, Erskine
Ashtyn Patterson, Francis Marion
Trinity Lee, King
Johannes Oeksnevad, Lees-McRae
Tobi Azeez, Mount Olive
Samantha Badami, UNC Pembroke
Brent Herlong, North Greenville
Emma Collins, Southern Wesleyan