UTEP Miners

UTEP’s Zacarias Velasquez Earns Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship

6/5/2026 11:14:00 AM

DALLAS – UTEP track and field's Zacarias Velasquez was honored as one of 10 accomplished recipients of the Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship, as announced by Conference USA officials on Friday.

This marks the 18^th year the award has been named after Dr. Jim Castañeda, who served Rice for 46 years as an educator, coach, and Faculty Athletics Representative before he passed in 2008. Every season, CUSA grants a $4,000 scholarship to distinguished graduates selected by the league's Faculty Athletics Representatives and approved by the Conference USA Board of Directors.

The senior is a four-time CUSA Commissioner Academic Honor Roll recipient (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026) and a three-time (2024, 2025, 2026) CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medalist. Velasquez was also the recent recipient of the CUSA Winter Spirit of Service Award on April 9. He has maintained excellent academic standing, boasting a 3.89 GPA, and is pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Velasquez received a degree in kinesiology from The University of Texas at El Paso in December 2024.

Velasquez's athletic achievements include finishing first in the men's long jump at the 2026 Miners Invitational with a 7.15-meter leap (23-5.5) and at the Jarvis Scott Invitational, he clocked a personal-best 22.49 in the men's 200-meter. His career-long leap in the outdoor long jump is 7.43 meters (24-4.5) at the 2025 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Velasquez collected over 50 hours of community service, working with programs such as the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank and the Rescue Runners of El Paso.

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