NAPERVILLE — Wheaton’s Kyle Johnson and North Central’s Aidan Westerberg have been selected to receive NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships, the NCAA announced on March 11. The two men’s soccer student-athletes were among 42 fall sport recipients chosen across all three NCAA divisions.
 
The NCAA awards up to 126 postgraduate scholarships annually. The one-time, non-renewable award provides $10,000 to student-athletes in their final year of intercollegiate competition. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, athletics accomplishment and campus and community involvement.
 
Westerberg is the first men’s soccer student-athlete in North Central program history to receive the scholarship. The Belvidere, Ill. native was named the 2022 CCIW Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-CCIW recognition three times during his career. He finished as the Cardinals’ all-time assists leader with 21 and was selected as a third-team All-American in 2022.
 
In the classroom, Westerberg graduated magna cum laude with a degree in biochemistry and a minor in sociology. His academic honors included three CSC Academic All-America selections, the 2021 CCIW Elite 25 award and the 2023 Jack Swartz Academic All-CCIW honor. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Dental Medicine program at the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine.
 
Johnson became Wheaton’s first male student-athlete to earn the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship since 2019. A Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major, he compiled a 3.88 cumulative grade-point average during his collegiate career. On the field, Johnson was a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-Region selection and served as a team captain while helping the Thunder claim CCIW regular season titles in 2024 and 2025. He concluded his career with 24 goals and eight assists.
 
Johnson also received Academic All-CCIW recognition three times. His campus involvement included serving as co-president of Wheaton’s Symbiosis Club and as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The scholarship will support his future graduate study in an accredited program.