University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Alec Trela named Commissioner’s Postgraduate Leadership Award winner
Jul 06, 2021 | Baseball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Tigers third baseman Alec Trela added to his on and off the field resume, as the American Athletic Conference named the senior as a 2020-21 Commissioner's Postgraduate Leadership Award winner.
Voted on by the conference's faculty athletics representatives, the annual award is given to one male and one female student-athlete from an AAC-sponsored sport who has been admitted to a degree-granting or professional program for the following year. The award goes to a student-athlete who has demonstrated leadership through excellence in academic credentials, athletic performance, and depth of commitment to service within the institution.
Tulane swimmer Jeni Griffin joins Trela as the female student-athlete recipient this year. Trela and Griffin will each receive a $5,000 scholarship that may be applied to postgraduate studies.
Trela is the fifth Memphis student-athlete to win the Commissioner's Postgraduate Leadership Award, as he joins Stasia Mallin (2019-20), Chandler Klemm (2017-18), Keenan Joyner (2014-15), and Zach Willis (2013-14) as Tigers who have received the conference's top academic award.
The Memphis infielder is the second Tigers baseball student-athlete to earn this honor and it makes it consecutive years that a member of Tigers' athletics has been named the Commissioner's Postgraduate Leadership Award winner. In addition, Trela was also named the American Athletic Conference's Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which includes an additional $2,000 scholarship from the league office.
A 2021 candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, which focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities, Trela is a four-time AAC All-Academic Team member, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and earned both Dean's List and Tiger 3.0 honors in every semester since he joined the Tigers. The Bloomington, Ill native was named to the 2020 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team and started 243 games for the Tigers from 2017-21. Trela finished the 2021 season second on the team in home runs, third in RBIs, second in slugging %, and second in runs scored.
In addition to his achievements on the field and in the classroom, Trela has volunteered with Mid-South Mission of Mercy, which offers free dental cleanings for under-served and under-insured people living in the Memphis and Mid-South area. He has also spent time at the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, participated in the Step UP Walk for Down Syndrome, and joined his teammates for Mustache March.
Voted on by the conference's faculty athletics representatives, the annual award is given to one male and one female student-athlete from an AAC-sponsored sport who has been admitted to a degree-granting or professional program for the following year. The award goes to a student-athlete who has demonstrated leadership through excellence in academic credentials, athletic performance, and depth of commitment to service within the institution.
Tulane swimmer Jeni Griffin joins Trela as the female student-athlete recipient this year. Trela and Griffin will each receive a $5,000 scholarship that may be applied to postgraduate studies.
Trela is the fifth Memphis student-athlete to win the Commissioner's Postgraduate Leadership Award, as he joins Stasia Mallin (2019-20), Chandler Klemm (2017-18), Keenan Joyner (2014-15), and Zach Willis (2013-14) as Tigers who have received the conference's top academic award.
The Memphis infielder is the second Tigers baseball student-athlete to earn this honor and it makes it consecutive years that a member of Tigers' athletics has been named the Commissioner's Postgraduate Leadership Award winner. In addition, Trela was also named the American Athletic Conference's Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which includes an additional $2,000 scholarship from the league office.
A 2021 candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, which focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities, Trela is a four-time AAC All-Academic Team member, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and earned both Dean's List and Tiger 3.0 honors in every semester since he joined the Tigers. The Bloomington, Ill native was named to the 2020 AAC Preseason All-Conference Team and started 243 games for the Tigers from 2017-21. Trela finished the 2021 season second on the team in home runs, third in RBIs, second in slugging %, and second in runs scored.
In addition to his achievements on the field and in the classroom, Trela has volunteered with Mid-South Mission of Mercy, which offers free dental cleanings for under-served and under-insured people living in the Memphis and Mid-South area. He has also spent time at the Ronald McDonald House in Memphis, participated in the Step UP Walk for Down Syndrome, and joined his teammates for Mustache March.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ BaseballWolfchase Toyota Insider: Baseball Edition - May 14, 2025
Wednesday, May 14
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Baseball Edition - May 6, 2025
Wednesday, May 07
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Baseball Edition - April 29, 2025
Tuesday, April 29
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Baseball Edition - April 22, 2025
Tuesday, April 22