ODESSA, Texas (June 23, 2026) – Natalia Salas of The University of Texas Permian Basin women's soccer team and Ben Patterson of The University of Texas Permian Basin football team have been recognized as recipients of the Class of 2026 Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete Award, presented annually by the LSC and the student-athlete's institution.

Each academic year, the Conference presents a Scholar-Athlete Award to one male and one female student-athlete who is a member of the graduating class at each LSC institution. Award recipients are selected by their campus and represent outstanding accomplishments in scholarship, athletics, and leadership. Honorees must have participated for at least two years in their sport.

UTPB's Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Success, Kelci Martinez, said, "I am beyond proud of Natalia and Ben. Their achievement reflects not only their dedication and success in competition, but also their commitment to excellence in the classroom. Balancing the demands of academics and athletics requires discipline, perseverance and strong character, and they have both exemplified those qualities during their time at UTPB. This recognition is a well-deserved honor, and I look forward to seeing all their success in the upcoming years as they start their careers. Thank you for your love and commitment to UTPB."

In addition to representing each of the 18 Lone Star Conference institutions, the 2025-26 award recipients competed on 16 of the 19 championship sports sponsored by the league. Included are College Sports Communicators Academic All-America and All-District honorees; LSC Academic Athletes of the Year and All-Academic team members as well as All-Conference award recipients. Among the Class of 2026 honorees also individuals who received All-Conference awards and athletes who led their respective teams to NCAA Division II national and regional titles in addition to LSC tournament and season championships.

Natalia Salas – 2025-26 Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete Award
Salas, a senior midfielder/defender from San Jose, Costa Rica, graduated this May with a 3.97 cumulative grade point average as a management major.

Salas started all 16 matches for the Falcons' women's soccer team and accumulated over 1,400 minutes over the season while also accounting for two assists. She played in all 90 minutes in each of the Falcons' final eight matches of the season. It was her second season in a row distributing two assists from the midfield/defense. She was also a team captain this year and was named to the 2025 LSC Preseason Players to Watch list for defense.

Salas was a two-time CSC Academic All-District® honoree (2024, 2025). She was named to the Dean's List and the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll in each of her eight semesters at UTPB, including each of her last seven semesters with a perfect 4.0 GPA, and is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma (ranking in the top-10 percent of her class). She also earned 2025 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award.

UTPB's Head Women's Soccer Coach Garrett Kull said, "Natalia's efforts on and off the field were one of the cornerstones of our program this past year. She is someone who brings intensity, commitment and attention to detail in everything she does while also being kind, open and honest. She's an amazing young woman, and I couldn't think of anyone more fitting to deserve this recognition."

Ben Patterson – 2025-26 Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete Award
Patterson, a senior wide receiver from Fort Worth, Texas, graduated this May with a 3.30 cumulative grade point average as a petroleum engineering major.

Patterson was named Second-Team All-LSC this past season for the UTPB football team. Patterson played in all 14 games, totaled 32 catches, ranked third on the team in receiving yards (678), and was fourth with five touchdown catches. In all of NCAA Division II, Patterson ranked 11th in yards per reception (21.19). He had at least one catch in all 14 games throughout the season and surpassed his career-high in receiving yards for the third year in a row.

Patterson spent five years at UTPB and racked up numerous accolades along the way. He redshirted his freshman year and played at least 12 games in his last three seasons. He is a three-time All-LSC honoree, ranks second in career receiving yards with the program and third in career touchdowns. Patterson is a two-time Second-Team All-LSC receiver (2023, 2025) and a one-time Honorable Mention All-LSC receiver (2024).

Patterson totaled at least five receiving touchdowns with at least 500 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons. With 1,774 career receiving yards, Patterson is ranked second in program history and is just 19 yards shy of the program record of 1,793 receiving yards. Finally, Patterson's 16 career receiving touchdowns are good for the third-most in program history.

Patterson was named to the LSC All-Academic Football Team in 2023, was named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District® Team, and earned the 2025 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award. Lastly, Patterson is a three-time member of the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll (Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2023).