Article by the Peach Belt Conference
AUGUSTA, GA – The Peach Belt Conference (PBC) and SunTrust Banks, Inc., are proud to announce that Georgia Southwestern State University senior women's basketball standout Jessica Bivins has been awarded the PBC-SunTrust Minority Postgraduate Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial support to a deserving Peach Belt minority student-athlete in pursuit of postgraduate college degree. Bivins, who graduated from GSW this May, joins USC Aiken men's soccer player Kofi Trim, who was awarded the fall scholarship in December.
"The PBC-SunTrust Postgraduate Scholarship will highlight my road to success tremendously," said Bivins. "I am blessed to be in a position to show that all student-athletes are capable of excelling on and off the court and receiving this honor signifies that all the hard work and sacrifice has paid off."
A native of Orlando, Fla., Bivins was also named a recipient of the NCAA Ethnic Minority and Women Enhancement Scholarship. She received her undergraduate degree in exercise science from GSW with a 3.41 GPA and will attend the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University this fall with the goal of earning a doctorate in physical therapy.
"SunTrust has a long and proud history of supporting a variety of education initiatives that allow people to achieve their goals and foster economically healthy and vibrant communities," said Kevin Blair, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of SunTrust Bank, Georgia Region. "We are pleased to partner with the Peach Belt Conference, and to award this scholarship to Jessica Bivins in recognition of her excellence in the classroom and on the court."
On the court, Bivins was one of two players to start in all 27 games for the Hurricanes. She was third on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game. She was also third on the team with 2.6 assists and an integral part of a team that set NCAA-era school records for total victories and conference wins.
"Jessica Bivins is the epitome of the NCAA student-athlete," said PBC commissioner David R. Brunk. "The dedication she has shown not only to her coaches and teammates but to her academic goals is truly astonishing and we are so proud to be able to work with SunTrust to help her reach those goals."
Bivins was named to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll for three straight years and the twice to the women's basketball All-Academic team. A member of Who's Who, she completed a 125-hour Practicum at Phoebe Sumter Hospital's Physical Therapy Clinic last summer and will finish a 500-hour internship at a clinic in Orlando this summer. She plans to pursue a career in physical therapy.
Founded in 1990, the Peach Belt Conference is home to 13 member schools in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The home to 30 NCAA Division II National Champions, the Peach Belt conducts championships in 13 sports throughout the year.
SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation's largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. As of September 30, 2011, SunTrust had total assets of $172.6 billion and total deposits of $126.3 billion. The Company operates an extensive branch and ATM network throughout the high-growth Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states and a full array of technology-based, 24-hour delivery channels. The Company also serves clients in selected markets nationally. Its primary businesses include deposit, credit, trust and investment services. Through various subsidiaries the Company provides mortgage banking, insurance, brokerage, investment management, equipment leasing and investment banking services. SunTrust's Internet address is suntrust.com.