SOUTH BEND – Five college-bound high school softball and baseball players from across northern Indiana and southwestern lower Michigan have each earned a $5,000 scholarship from the South Bend Cubs.

To be considered for the scholarship, senior applicants had to graduate in spring 2017, be an active participant in an organized softball or baseball program and live in one of the 11 counties surrounding Four Winds Field in downtown South Bend.

When announcing the scholarship opportunity in the spring, South Bend Cubs Chairman and Owner Andrew T. Berlin said the scholarships demonstrate support not just of softball and baseball, but also the team’s commitment to the future leaders of the region. The application process opened in April.

“After a good amount of deliberation over a stellar applicant pool, today we can finally announce this year’s list of winners,” Berlin said. “These athletes represent the best in our region. They not only have the characteristics needed to succeed in softball and baseball, they’re making an impact off the field. It’s our hope that these scholarships will help them become the bright leaders of our future.”

The 2017 South Bend Cubs Scholarship winners:

• Nikolos Kavadas , Penn High School
• Halle Meredith, John Adams High School
• Samantha Luzadre, Buchanan High School
• Mattie Reese, John Glenn High school
• Andrew Samuelson, LaPorte High School

“These five students are proven leaders,” said Joe Hart, President of the South Bend Cubs. “For this application process, we asked them to submit an essay, demonstrating why they deserved this. The answers blew us away. Some were deeply personal, others were motivational. Truly these are all great young people who we’re proud to award scholarships.”

All five scholarship winners will be recognized at the South Bend Cubs home game at Four Winds Field on Saturday, August 12.