FORT MYERS, Fla. – Olivia Black concluded her stellar final season of softball by receiving one of the two ASUN Postgraduate Scholarships, the conference announced at its annual awards ceremony.

Black and Bellarmine's John Alie are the women's and men's recipients of the ASUN's postgraduate scholarship.

Black, the first ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year in FGCU softball history, was also named to the Allstate NACDA Spring Good Works Team earlier in May, joining CJ Smith (men's tennis) as the first two FGCU student-athletes to ever earn the prestigious honor. Additionally, Black was inducted into the FGCU Student Hall of Fame in April for her numerous community service involvements alongside her academic excellence and athletic performance.

In the classroom, Black graduated three semesters early with a perfect 4.0 GPA in forensic studies and has maintained her perfect GPA through her Master's Degree program. She will graduate in May 2027 with her Master's Degree in forensic studies with a concentration in human identity and trauma analysis. Throughout her time at FGCU, she has served as a Laboratory Intern and Teaching Assistant. She also completed a student research opportunity, overseeing technical training for middle school students in foundational forensic sciences. 

Black has demonstrated leadership as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and as a captain on the softball team. She created and launched the SAAC Eagle Cup, a comprehensive, department-wide incentive program which has increased student-athlete engagement in community service and student-athlete development opportunities. Black serves as the primary liaison to the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee (IAC) and University Athletic Director, advocating for student-athlete welfare, academic integrity, and policy reform; she also represents FGCU at the ASUN Conference level, collaborating with conference leaders to provide feedback on NCAA legislation and national student-athlete initiatives. She was selected to participate in the EAGLE Leadership Institute, an intensive nine-month leadership program focused on individual, group and community leadership values.

In the FGCU community, Black has been involved with Habitat for Humanity, helping to build multiple homes in North Fort Myers alongside her teammates. She hosted multiple canned food drives, including one for Hurricane Ian relief efforts, and hosted a Bone Marrow Drive. Black volunteered at Golisano's Children's Hospital each of the last four falls, hosting toy drives for the children. Additionally, she partnered with the American Heart Association to raise funds and awareness for cardiac disease and stroke. In conjunction with her time as a softball student-athlete, she organized and led a Youth Impact initiative, and has worked numerous skills clinics with youth softball players.

On the field, she wrapped up an illustrious career with the FGCU Division I-era record for stolen bases (102), which ranks second in program history. Her 92.7% (102-110) career stolen base percentage (min. 50 SBA) ranks third in program history, second in the Division I era and first by a four year player. The 102 career stolen bases are tied for fourth in Atlantic Sun conference history;  she became the first player since 2017 to steal 100 bases and the seventh player in ASUN history to steal 100 bases. Her 102 stolen bases ranked seventh among active players at the end of her career. Black rounded out her career with 19 steals in 2026 to lead or tie for the team lead in stolen bases in all four years

She was one of six players in the conference to steal three bases in a game in 2026 when she swiped three bags at West Georgia; Black also swiped two bases as a graduate student, against Stetson in the regular season finale and against Ball State in February.

Black was one of eight players in the conference to have a four-hit game when she garnered a career high against Louisiana Monroe in February, she also doubled twice against the Warhawks, which is tied for the most doubles in a game in the ASUN this season. She totaled 16 multi-hit games (two three-hit games and the four-hit game) and has four multi-RBI games, including three in ASUN play. One of her multi-RBI games came on February 17, when she delivered a two-run walk-off single to upset FAU.

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