Former Ankeny Centennial volleyball standout Ella Becker of Cornell College has been named recipient of the 2025-26 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
The NCAA awards $10,000 postgraduate scholarships to 42 exceptional student-athletes, representing fall sports across all three NCAA divisions, who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievements, athletic excellence and leadership within their communities.
Established in 1964, the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship program promotes and encourages graduate education by recognizing the Association’s most accomplished student-athletes.
Becker is Cornell’s 26th NCAA postgraduate scholar, and its first since 1999.
Becker is a two-time recipient of the Midwest Conference Elite 20 Award and a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection. The three-time academic and athletic all-conference performer was named Cornell’s Paul Maaske Scholar-Athlete in Fall 2025.
As a junior, Becker was inducted into Cornell’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. She’s also a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society.
Becker excelled on the volleyball court for coach Jeff Meeker’s Rams. The four-year starting libero earned AVCA Honorable Mention all-America accolades this past season. She garnered first-team all-region and all-conference honors.
Becker ranks No. 3 on Cornell’s career list with 2,026 digs. She finished No. 2 all-time in serve percentage (96.6).
Becker helped lead the Rams to four consecutive MWC regular-season and tournament championships, along with four straight appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Becker’s teams compiled an impressive four-year record of 83-39, including a 40-0 mark against MWC competition.