Stirling Sakashita Earns NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- University of Chicago senior defensive back Stirling Sakashita has been selected as an NCAA Postgrad Scholar during the fall 2025 season, as announced by the NCAA on Monday evening.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- University of Chicago senior defensive back
Stirling Sakashita has been selected as an NCAA Postgrad Scholar during the fall 2025 season, as announced by the NCAA.
Stirling Sakashita is a neuroscience major and one of the captains on the 2025 University of Chicago football team. The two-time All-Midwest Conference selection and four-time Academic All-Midwst Conference selection has been a leader in the secondary for all four years with the Maroons. He capped off his career with 142 tackles, 85 solo tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6 interceptions, and 3 blocked kicks.
The Honolulu, Hawaii native has also been a leader in the community in several different areas during his time at the University of Chicago. He has served as a volunteer with the Tender, Love, and Care volunteer program at UChicago Medicine for the past two years where he has provided books, activities, and simple conversations with adult impatients to help enhance their stays. Additionally, he has served as a tutor and mentor for the Good Athlete Project and Lost Boyz Inc. for two years where he helped serve the underserved children in South Chicago by reading, playing sports, and connecting on a personal level. Sakashita will be continuing his education next year in Medical School at either the University of Hawaii, John A School of Medicine or the Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine.
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners receive a one-time $10,000 grant to be used towards their postgraduate degrees. To be eligible for this award, student-athletes must maintain a 3.2 grade point average and demonstrate top-level academic achievements, success in athletics, and involvement and leadership within the community.
The University of Chicago continues its impressive streak of nine straight seasons with an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient. Over that span, 12 Maroon student-athletes have earned this prestigious award, including five during the 2024-25 academic year. The five award winners in the 2024-25 academic year were the most in an academic year in UChicago history.