ATLANTA (April 17) – Quarterback Joe Hamilton and senior golfer Matt Kuchar, sharing the honor among males, and softball catcher Anne Knobbe were named Georgia Tech’s Most Valuable Athletes Monday night as athletes from all 16 sports gathered for the annual Yellow Jacket Celebration at the Bill Moore Tennis Center.
Carolyn Clevenger, Tech’s senior volleyball setter, and sprinter Michael Johnson received the prestigious Total Person Awards, given for excellent performance in their sports and outstanding achievement in the classroom, while senior basketball player Danielle Donehew received the Robert Cup, given in memory of the late Chip Robert to Tech’s top senior student-athlete.
Hamilton (Alvin, S.C.), winner of the Davey O’Brien Award and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, led Tech to an 8-4 record last fall and set numerous Yellow Jacket offensive records, including 1999 season totals of 3,060 yards passing and 29 touchdown passes while rushing for 734 yards and six more TDs. Kuchar (Lake Mary, Fla.), the nation’s second-ranked golfer according to the Mastercard Collegiate rankings, is the top player on a Tech team which has won four events this year and is ranked No. 1 in the nation. Knobbe (Brea, Calif.) has become the Atlantic Coast Conference’s all-time home run (38) and RBI (170) leader in softball. This year, she leads the Jackets in every offensive category with a .412 average, 15 home runs and 49 RBI.
Clevenger (Oakland, Calif.), a 4.0 student while majoring in Public Policy and History, Technology & Society, averaged more than 10 assists per game last season. She has twice been voted a GTE Academic All-America and is a recipient of the Weaver-James-Corrigan post-graduate scholarship from the ACC. Johnson (Littleton, Colo.) is a three-time NCAA champion, a three-time ACC champion and a five-time all-America in the 400 meters and as a member of Tech’s 4×400-meter relay team. He carries a 2.63 average in Management.
Donehew (Woodstock, Ga.) finished her career as Tech’s all-time leader in three-point field goals last year while helping the Yellow Jackets to the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. She earned District III Academic all-America honors while compiling a 3.28 grade-point average in Industrial Engineering and was named Ms. Georgia Tech at the 1999 Homecoming football game. Named to the Georgia Tech All-Academic team, with top grade-point averages on their respective teams, were Sergio Aguirre, men’s tennis; Matthew Boggs, baseball; Carolyn Clevenger, volleyball; Dan Dyke, football; Judy Johnson, women’s cross country; Brenda Lord, women’s track and field; Jared McGehee, men’s cross country; Brad Mills, men’s track and field; Troy Matteson, golf; James Nozar, swimming; Laura Ozolins, women’s tennis; Lauren Schwarz, softball; Scott Siegel, cheerleading; Regina Tate, women’s basketball; Paul Trotti, men’s basketball. Also receiving honors were Dan Yates, who received the Total Person Alumni Award, and Tech director of admissions Deborah Smith, who received the Tech Faculty/Staff Special Recognition award.
Other awards given Monday included:
Delta Air Lines/Georgia Tech Partners in Leadership Award – Jahmal Overton, baseball ACC Scholar-Athletes – Carolyn Clevenger, volleyball; Brad Mills, track/cross country ACC Post-Graduate Scholarship Awards – Carolyn Clevenger, volleyball; Tamarra Jenkin, tennis Captain’s Captain Award – Jahmal Overton, baseball ACC Top Six for Service Awards – Sergio Aguirre, tennis; Danielle Donehew, basketball; Sean Gregory, football; Alisha McClinton, track; Becky Megesi, track/cross country; James Nozar, swimming; NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference – James Nozar, swimming
