SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The Texas State University Athletics Department, in partnership with Leo and Kristi Seitz, announced the following student-athletes as recipients of the 2025 Leo John Seitz V Heart of a Champion Scholarship: Brooke Bentke (volleyball), Sierra Dickson (women's basketball), Ty Powell (baseball), McKenah Sears (women's track and field) and Kenard Snyder (football).

The Leo John Seitz V Heart of a Champion endowment was created in 2011 by Leo and Kristi Seitz to honor the memory of their son, Leo John Seitz V. The endowment provides summer school scholarships for Texas State student-athletes who exhibit perseverance, hard work and the Heart of a Champion. Since 2011, nearly 80 student-athletes have been honored.

"We continue to be grateful for Leo and Kristi Seitz and their commitment to supporting Texas State student-athletes while allowing us to share in honoring their son's legacy," said TXST Director of Athletics Don Coryell. "The five student-athletes supported by their generosity truly represent what it means to be a Bobcat on and off the field through their hard work in the classroom and persistent drive in competition. Leo and Kristi's continual contributions are helping generations of athletes in the pursuit of success."

Brooke Bentke | Junior | Brenham, Texas
Bentke is a standout on and off the court for Texas State volleyball. As she is about to enter her junior season with Texas State, she is a multi-year letterwinner and Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List honoree. She was a part of the Bobcats' 2024 Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2023 and 2024. Bentke excels in the classroom as well with high GPAs throughout her career as she pursues a degree in management. Though she has appeared in just 20 matches throughout the first two seasons of her career, her impact off the bench has been a big part of the Bobcats' back-to-back postseason appearances.

Sierra Dickson | Grad Student | Carrollton, Texas
Dickson is a proud five-year Bobcat with Texas State women's basketball. Though she has completed her eligibility, she still is working to complete her master's at Texas State. Throughout her career, she competed in over 130 games and scored nearly 500 points, while bringing down over 200 rebounds. She excelled off the court as well with multiple Sun Belt Conference Commissioner's List honors, Texas State Dean's List honors, and served as a Student Athlete Advisory Committee member for the majority of her career at Texas State. She played all five seasons at Texas State under head coach Zenarae Antoine and was part of the team's 2022-23 Sun Belt Regular Season Title.

Ty Powell | Freshman | Fulshear, Texas
Powell is an incoming freshman for the baseball team who recently graduated from Fulshear High School. He was named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 6A All-State Second Team and was chosen as the District 20-6A MVP this year. As a junior, Powell was chosen to the all-state third team as a pitcher that saw him throw a perfect game in a playoff contest.
Powell has also twice been named a first-team all-district selection and district MVP when the Chargers competed at the 5A level. Currently, he is playing for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the MLB Draft League.

McKenah Sears | Sophomore | Grain Valley, Missouri
In her first season with the Texas State track and field team, McKenah Sears made an immediate impact. Sears competed in the javelin; where she recorded four top three finishes and earned the Bobcats three points in the event at the SBC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The freshman recorded three throws that ranked in the top 10 in TXST history, with her personal best of 48.63m/159-6 ranking as the sixth best mark in school history. As a freshman, she qualified for the NCAA West Regional and was one of seven freshmen in the country to qualify for the meet. 

Kenard Snyder | Redshirt-Senior | Vero Beach, Florida
Snyder enters his first season with the Bobcats this fall after transferring to Texas State from Iowa State. During the 2024 season, Snyder saw action in 10 games with the Cyclones registering eight tackles and two sacks, while earning Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll accolades. Prior to his time in Aimes, Snyder spent three seasons at ULM, playing in 24 games in 2022 and 2023 and earning Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention accolades in his final season. He amassed 121 total tackles with 25.0 for loss, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a blocked kick.

To support the Leo John Seitz V Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Bobcat nation can make a gift to the endowment here. Select "Leo John Seitz V Memorial Endowed Scholarship" in the section titled "Search for other Texas State University programs."