2023-24 Redbird Softball Endowed Scholarship Announced

NORMAL, Ill.- Each year, deserving Illinois State student-athletes are chosen as recipients for prestigious endowed scholarships at Illinois State, and this year, one outstanding softball player was selected for one of these honors by ISU head softball coach, Tina Kramos.

The 2023-24 winner of the endowed scholarship given to an Illinois State softball student-athlete is Madi Bylak. Bylak reflects the standards set forth by the creators of the endowment, and what it means to represent the Redbird softball community and Illinois State as a whole.

The Eric and Maria Boerngen Softball Heart of Service Endowed Scholarship // Madi Bylak | Redshirt-Junior | Utility | Manteno, Ill.

Bylak is in her fourth year with the Redbirds and is looking to make a comeback in the upcoming season. After missing the majority of the 2023 season due to injury, Bylak took the field again this fall and is back and ready for the 2024 spring season. In 2021, Bylak started all but one game for the Redbirds, finishing the year perfect in stolen bases with nine RBIs. In 2022, Bylak played in 31 contests, ending the year with a perfect fielding percentage. Bylak is currently pursuing an integrated BS/MPA in Professional Accountancy with a cumulative GPA of 3.88.

The Heart of Service Endowed Scholarship was established in 2021 by Illinois State employees Eric and Maria Boerngen. The scholarship will be awarded each year to the Redbird softball student-athlete who most exemplifies a “Heart of Service” that encompasses the culture Eric and Maria love about the softball program at Illinois State.

This/These endowed scholarship(s) are among 30 available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. For more information about establishing or contributing an endowed scholarship, please call the Weisbecker Athletic Fund office at (309) 438-3636.

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