AIKEN, S.C. – Former University of South Carolina Aiken women's soccer standout Nicole Westphal was one of the 26 recipients of the Ethnic Minority and Women's Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics Program.

Westphal was awarded $6,000 as part of the program, which awards 13 scholarships to ethnic minorities and 13 more to female college graduates who will be entering their initial year of postgraduate studies.

Westphal was awarded one of the women's scholarships after completing her fourth year (2007-2010) as a starter in net for the USC Aiken women's soccer program. Currently interning in the USC Aiken athletics department, Westphal was also a three-time Peach Belt All-Academic selection.

A four-year starter for the USC Aiken women's soccer team, Westphal (Springfield, Va./Paul VI Catholic) played in 69 matches over her four-year career for the Pacers. Westphal made 65 starts in her career.

Westphal collected 346 saves in goal for the Pacers over the course of her four-year career.

As a freshman, Westphal started all the Pacer games and made a Peach Belt Conference second-best 101 saves.

As a sophomore, Westphal made a PBC-best 117 saves and was chosen to the PBC All-Academic team. She was once again named to the PBC All-Academic team in 2009 as a junior. She recorded 78 saves in net last year to sit fourth in the PBC.

She made 50 saves in goal for the Pacers in the 2010 season.

In the classroom, Westphal currently boasts a 3.852 grade point average. She will graduate from USC Aiken with a degree in Communications.

Developed by the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics and the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, the goal of the non-renewable scholarship is to increase the pool of and opportunities for qualified minority and female candidates in intercollegiate athletics.