Over the next month, BethelRoyals.com will feature Q&A stories that highlight previous recipients of the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The featured series will check up with the alumni seeing what they are up to now, favorite memories from their time at Bethel and more!

Today we check in with former football student-athlete J.D. Mehlhorn who was a 2014 graduate of Bethel. Throughout his time at Bethel, Mehlhorn accumulated a GPA of 3.96 as a double major in Biokinetics and Physics and the Royals football team amassed a 41-8 record with three trips to the NCAA Playoffs. Mehlhorn was also a two-time All Conference player, a D3football.com All-Region honoree, and a USA College Football Preseason All American as a defensive back for Bethel. On top of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, he was also named to the 2013 AFCA Good Works Team. Read the full release from his postgraduate scholarship announcement by clicking here.

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BethelRoyals.com: To begin, after receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and graduating from Bethel, where did you go to get your masters and what did you study?
J.D. Mehlhorn: I went on to study exercise science at Appalachian State University, located in Boone, N.C.

BR: What led you to Bethel University?
JDM: There were a lot of factors that went into my decision to attend Bethel.  First off, my parents both went there, so I grew up with some familiarity of the school and the campus.  As I got into high school, I was able to visit some of my older friends that had chosen Bethel, and I was also recruited to play football there.  Every time I was there it just felt like the right fit for me.  It seemed like a place where I was really going to be able grow spiritually, intellectually, and socially.  I'm very grateful for my time at Bethel.

BR: What are you up to now?
JDM: I'm currently the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Olympic Sports at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Ga.

BR: How would you describe the game day atmosphere at Bethel?
JDM: I loved game day at Bethel.  The smell coming from the tailgates, the music from the stadium, and the positive vibes from everyone on campus all made the walk from the locker room to the stadium one of my favorite parts of the day.  Having family, friends, students, and alumni in the stands week in and week out meant a lot to me as an athlete and made it feel like one big family on game day.

BR: How did being a Division III student-athlete prepare you for life after college?
JDM: So many of the things I learned and practiced as a student-athlete helped prepare me for life after college.  Commitment, teamwork, and time management are all required in order to be successful as a student-athlete and as a team. I have found the same to be true in my career as well as other aspects of my life and it was extremely valuable for me to have established these qualities during my time in college. I could go on about several other important things I learned as a Division III athlete, but suffice it to say that the experience was a worthwhile investment.

BR: What is your favorite sports memory while in a Royals uniform?
JDM: That's super tough, because so many come to mind.  If I have to choose just one though, it was probably going undefeated in the regular season and winning the MIAC outright in 2013.  There were a lot of things that made that season feel special, but the biggest thing was just the group of men that were a part of that team.

Quick Hitters:
Favorite spot on campus: The old weight room (the one you all have now is super nice)
Favorite station or food in the Dining Center: Stir Fry.
Favorite class you took: Contemporary Topics in Optics
Favorite opponent to play: St. Thomas
Favorite line Coach J always said: Punch adversity in the face.