The first recipient of the Coach Matt Crenshaw scholarship is IUPUI Junior Patrick Neblett. Upon being named IUPUI’s head Men’s Basketball Coach in Summer 2021 Coach Crenshaw immediately reached out to Africana Studies Program Director Dr. Les Etienne and asked how he could make an impact on the IUPUI community beyond the Basketball court. Coach Crenshaw, an IUPUI graduate, wanted to do something that supported the institution’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and hoped that his contribution could support underserved students. Working closely with both the Advancement office and the Africana Studies Program in the School of Liberal Arts a $1000 scholarship was established to support an Africana Studies student. This year, Patrick Neblett, a promising scholar won the award. Africana Studies major and minor faculty advisor Dr. Patricia Turley describes Patrick as “One the most promising students in the program.” Coach Crenshaw said of his scholarship, “The city of Indianapolis and IUPUI make up a large part of who I am as a person, leader, mentor, and father. As a coach having an opportunity to win is part of what fuels me, With the Crenshaw-Nesbitt scholarship I hope to inspire students to help assist them in wining on campus and in the community. Through this scholarship, students will have the opportunity to be an impactful representation of what it means to be a Jaguar. Selfless, hard-working, dedicated. I look forward to partnering with the students blessed with this award.”