Celebrating Lauryn Borzilleri: NCAA Jim McKay Scholarship Recipient

We’re proud to celebrate Lauryn Borzilleri, who has been named a recipient of the 2026 NCAA Jim McKay Graduate Scholarship.

Lauryn is a member of the University of Kentucky softball team, a UK Athletics Strategic Communications Pro Career Institute intern, a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee leader, and a mental health advocate, just a few of the many roles she balances with purpose and excellence.

The prestigious award includes a $10,000 scholarship toward graduate study and honors the legacy of legendary sportscaster Jim McKay by recognizing student-athletes who demonstrate leadership, integrity, and excellence in sports communications.

A three-year letterwinner for Kentucky Softball, Lauryn was named Team Defensive MVP and voted a team captain for the 2025 season. In the classroom, she has been an Honor Roll and Dean’s List student throughout her academic career.

Equally impactful has been her leadership off the field. Lauryn has chaired Kentucky’s Beyond Blue Zone, a student-athlete mental health initiative, and served as a SAAC representative, helping elevate conversations around wellness and the student-athlete experience.

Her interest in storytelling took shape through an eight-week internship in Athletics Strategic Communications, where she assisted with content creation for UK’s social media and email marketing channels, helping drive engagement and revenue generation. As a Pro Career Institute intern, she consistently brought professionalism, curiosity, and a clear sense of purpose to her work.

Lauryn plans to pursue a master’s degree in communication at Kentucky while completing her final season of eligibility in 2027.

Congratulations, Lauryn. This honor is well deserved, and we’re excited to see what comes next.