WICHITA FALLS, Texas – Midwestern State golfer Seth Bearden and Lillia Besedin of the Midwestern State women's soccer team were among the 35 members of the 2026 graduating class to receive the Lone Star Conference Scholar-Athlete Award.

Each academic year, the LSC 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.

The Golf Coaches Association of America named Bearden as an All-American for the third consecutive year after the native of Crowell, Texas, finished his senior campaign with four top-five results, including a victory at the NCAA Division II National Preview at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder, Colorado. 

Besedin helped the Mustangs to an 11-3-6 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Championships during her senior season. The midfielder from Gilbert, Arizona, led MSU with eight goals and scored the game-winning goal in a 2-0 victory over No. 1-ranked Dallas Baptist.

Bearden received his master's degree in sports administration, and Besedin majored in general business.