March 9, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Georgia Tech’s David Dragoo (men’s golf), Whitney Haller (softball) and Jason Haniger (baseball) are three of 42 recipients of Atlantic Coast Conference postgraduate scholarships, Commissioner John D. Swofford announced Monday.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan and Jim and Pat Thacker scholarships are given to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate-level degree following graduation. Each recipient will receive $5,000 to use towards his or her graduate education. Student-athletes receiving the award have performed with distinction in both the classroom and in their respective sports, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
In addition to those receiving scholarship funds, six student-athletes will receive Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Awards. These students will be recognized for their outstanding performance in both athletic competition and the classroom throughout their collegiate careers and intend to compete at the Olympic or professional level.
Dragoo, a fifth-year senior from Scottsdale, Ariz., will graduate with honors from Tech in May with a degree in economics. Named to the Dean’s List in seven of the last eight semesters, Dragoo has the second-best stroke average (73.60) for the 13th-ranked Yellow Jackets and has finished in the top 20 in three of six events this season. In addition to his golf and academic pursuits, he is a full-time intern at an Atlanta investment company, has successfully invested private money and owns his own home in the Atlanta area, and has helped coach his younger sister, who is a world champion in Western Rodeo.
Haller, a two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American, earned All-ACC honors each of the past three seasons. The former ACC Rookie of the Year and second team All-American holds the ACC and Georgia Tech record for home runs and RBI, while ranking in the top five in school history for batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, doubles, fielding percentage and on-base percentage.
Haniger, who elected to return to Tech for his senior season after being selected in the 19th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, currently leads the Yellow Jackets in batting average (.400). Haniger compiled a number of individual awards in 2008 including Academic All-District, the NCAA Athens Regional All-Tournament Team, the prestigious Bobby Dodd Scholarship award and the Academic All-ACC Team.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan award is named in honor of the late Jim Weaver and Bob James as well as Gene Corrigan, all former ACC commissioners. The league’s first commissioner, James H. Weaver, served the conference from 1954 to 1970 after a stint as the Director of Athletics at Wake Forest University. His early leadership and uncompromising integrity are largely responsible for the excellent reputation enjoyed by the ACC today.
Robert C. James, a former University of Maryland football player, was named commissioner in 1971 and served for 16 years. During his tenure, the league continued to grow in stature and became recognized as a national leader in athletics and academics, winning 23 national championships and maintaining standards of excellence in the classroom.
Eugene F. Corrigan assumed his role as the third full-time commissioner on September 1, 1987, and served until August of 1997. During Corrigan’s tenure, ACC schools captured 30 NCAA championships and two national football titles.
Prior to 1994, the Weaver-James postgraduate scholarships were given as separate honors. The Jim Weaver award, which originated in 1970, recognized exceptional achievement on the playing field and in the classroom, while the Bob James award, established in 1987, also honored outstanding student-athletes.
The Thacker award, which originated in 2005, is awarded in honor of the late Jim and Pat Thacker of Charlotte, N.C. Jim Thacker was the primary play-by-play announcer for the ACC’s first television network. Recipients of the award must demonstrate outstanding performance both in athletic competition and in the classroom and intend to further their education through post-graduate studies at an ACC institution.
The 42 student-athletes will be honored April 15, 2009, in Greensboro, N.C., at a luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club. The luncheon will be held at the Koury Convention Center.
Other Weaver-James-Corrigan Award Recipients are as follows: Boston College – Caroline Byron (women’s swimming and diving); Bob Dirks (field hockey); Emily Hannigan (women’s lacrosse); Clemson – Megan Bendik (rowing). Jimmy Maners (football), Rachel Regone (women’s swimming and diving); Duke – Kim Imbesi (women’s lacrosse), Melissa Mang, (women’s tennis), Peter Truszkowski (fencing); Florida State – Ania Rynarzewska (women’s tennis); Keyla Smith (women’s track and field); Matt Wernke (men’s track and field); Maryland – Dean Muhtadi (football), Sarah Scholl (field hockey); Christen Vagts (water polo); Miami – Britta Boesing (women’s swimming and diving), Corynn Carino (women’s soccer), Nene Kamate, (women’s track and field); North Carolina – Brock Baker (men’s cross country), Kelly Davies (women’s volleyball), Kelly Taylor (women’s lacrosse) ; NC State – Aiwane Iboaya (volleyball), Tami Krzeszewski (women’s soccer); Ashley Shepard (gymnastics); Virginia – Billie-Jo Grant (women’s track and field), Ryan Hurley (men’s swimming and diving), Pat Mellors (men’s swimming and diving); Virginia Tech – Tasmin Fanning (women’s track and field); Kim Hickey (women’s soccer); Taylor Walsh (men’s soccer); Wake Forest – Sam Cronin (men’s soccer), Camelyn Dillon (women’s soccer), Natalie Mullikin (volleyball). Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Award Recipients are as follows: Duke – Amanda Blumenherst (women’s golf); Maryland – Dan Gronkowski (football); Miami – Jack McClinton (men’s basketball); North Carolina — Yael Averbuch (women’s soccer); NC State – Ben McCauley (men’s basketball); Virginia – Andrew Carraway (baseball).
2008 Post-Graduate Scholar Bios
Caroline Byron, Women’s Swimming, Boston College
As a senior, set the all-time mark for dual meet wins, passing RoseMary DeLeo ’92 with her 143rd victory…winner of the 2007 James J. Kane Academic Award for having one of the top GPAs on the team…winner of the Athletic Director’s Award for Academic Achievement…holds the school record in the 100 and 200 yard freestyle…a member of the four school record holding relay teams (200, 400 and 800 yard freestyle; 400 individual medley).
Bob Dirks, Women’s Field Hockey, Boston College
BC’s all-time leading scorer with 150 points (62g, 27a)…led the Eagles in 19 goals and 43 points her senior year…Scored six game-winning goals…Earned All-ACC, All-ACC Tournament, First Team All-Northeast Region and First Team All-America honors, senior season…Named to the ACC All-Academic Team four times…started 77-of-79 games in her collegiate career…ACC Offensive Player of the Year in 2006…Three-time First Team All-America honors… NFHCA Academic All-America honors as a junior.
Emily Hannigan, Women’s Lacrosse, Boston College
As a junior, started all 17 games…led all defensemen with nine points…scored five goals and recorded four assists…second on the team with 21 caused turnovers…22 ground balls ranked third…tied for third with 23 draw controls…took 10 shots on the season…went 2-2 on free position shot attempts…earned the Athletics Director’s Award for Academic Achievement…named to the All-ACC Academic Team three times…named to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll as a sophomore and junior.
Megan Bendik, Rowing, Clemson
A three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection…named to the All-ACC Academic team in 2008 … twice named a National Scholar Athlete by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) … named second-team All-Region by the CRCA in 2008 … member of the Varsity 8+ crew that advanced to the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history in 2008 and finished 14th in the nation … named a co-captain for senior season.
Jimmy Maners, Football, Clemson
First Clemson football player to be inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society … three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection … named to the All-ACC Academic Team in 2007 … winner of Clemson’s top student-athlete award at the Gator Bowl luncheon … had a 41.7 career punting average, fourth-best in Tiger history … second-team All-ACC by Rivals.com in 2007… a two year starter at punter for the Tigers.
Rachel Regone, Women’s Swimming and Diving, Clemson
Three-time ACC silver-medalist in 50 free .. .two-time ACC champion in 200 free relay … holds five school records … Major in Professional Health Studies … Named CSCAA Academic All-American in 2008 … Three-time Academic All-ACC selection … 2008 Strength and Conditioning All-American … 2008 Olympic Trials Participant.
Kim Imbesi, Women’s Lacrosse, Duke
A two-time All-ACC Academic Team selection … was named the National Player of the Week by Inside Lacrosse, Womenslax.com, and Womenslacrosse.com from May 18-20, 2008 … ranked third in the conference in saves per game (7.24), fourth in goals-against average (10.08), and fifth in save percentage (.422) in 2008, and ranked 26th in Division I for goals-against average and 27th in saves … posted 152 saves on the 2008 season, which ranks seventh all-time in a single season at Duke, while her 1,238 minutes played is the most ever in a season for a Blue Devil keeper … was named to the 2007 NCAA All-Tournament team after recording 16 saves in the national semifinals against Virginia.
Melissa Mang, Women’s Tennis, Duke
Duke’s top doubles player throughout her career … Earned ACC All-Academic Team and ITA National Scholar-Athlete recognition in 2008 … A psychology major … Earned All-American honors in doubles as a junior … A two-time All-ACC selection, earning the honor in 2006 and 2007 … Two-time team captain … Currently ranked 11th nationally in doubles … Won the ITA National Summer Championship in 2007 … Led the team in 2005-06 with 29 wins.
Peter Truszkowski, Men’s Fencing, Duke
A three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll…Tabbed First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III as a junior…Team captain for the Duke men’s fencing team…A two-time All-America selection…Took eighth place at the 2008 NCAA Fencing Saber Championships…Owns a career 163-57 record for the regular season…Leads Duke’s saber squad with a 36-13 record this season.
Ania Rynarzewska, Women’s Tennis, Florida State
Named to the 2006 & 2008 ACC All-Academic Women’s Tennis Teams… 2006, 2007 & 2008 ACC Academic Honor Roll member… Named the women’s tennis team’s Golden Torch Award winner in 2007 for earning the top GPA on the squad… Clinched FSU’s first-ever victory over Florida in women’s tennis on Feb. 28, 2009… In 2008, was a member of the squad that hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history… Was a member of the 2008 team that earned the program’s highest ranking in program history at No. 12 in the nation… Posted a 10-4 singles mark in 2008… Was ranked as high as #33 in doubles play during the 2008 season… Earned a victory at doubles in the 2008 NCAA Tournament… Showed great strength in overcoming an injury early in her sophomore season.
Keyla Smith, Women’s Track and Field, Florida State
Named to the 2007 & 2008 ACC All-Academic Women’s Track teams… 2007 & 2008 ACC Academic Honor Roll member… 2007 USTFCCCA Division I Women’s All-Academic team honoree… Graduated in spring 2008 with a degree in Business Marketing… Currently working on a master’s degree in Sports Administration… Member of FSU’s first-ever ACC Indoor Women’s Track & Field Championship team in 2009… Earned All-America honors as a member of the 4x400m relay that ran a seventh-place at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships… Two-time NCAA participant (2007 & 2008) and two-time NCAA All-East Region honoree (2007 & 2008) as part of FSU’s outdoor 4x400m Relay… 2007 ACC Champion in the 4x400m Relay in a mark that set an ACC record… Earned All-ACC honors in the 2008 400m indoor and the 2007 (outdoor) and 2008 (indoor) 4x400m Relay.
Matt Wernke, Men’s Track and Field, Florida State
Named to the 2008 ACC All-Academic Men’s Track Team… 2007 & 2008 ACC Academic Honor Roll member… Earned 2008 All-ACC indoor honors in the weight throw… Ranks fourth in FSU history in the hammer throw with a toss of 158.75… Advanced to his second straight NCAA Outdoor East Regional in 2008 where he finished in the top 12 in the hammer… Qualified for the 2007 NCAA Outdoor East Regional Meet where he placed 17th in the hammer… Member of the FSU team which has won three straight NCAA Outdoor Track & Field national championships.
David Dragoo, Men’s Golf, Georgia Tech
Fifth-year senior from Scottsdale, Ariz. who will graduate with honors in May of 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics … Has made the Institute Dean’s List seven of the last eight semesters … He has finished in the top 20 of four events, three this academic year, and has accumulated a career-best 73.60 stroke average, second-best on a team that is ranked No. 13 in the nation … Was named an All-America scholar last spring by the Golf Coaches Association of America, made the Academic All-ACC golf team in 2008, and has made the ACC Academic Honor Roll four times … In addition to his golf and academic pursuits, he is a full-time intern at an Atlanta investment company, has successfully invested private money and owns his own home in the Atlanta area, and has helped coach his younger sister, who is a world champion in Western Rodeo.
Whitney Haller, Softball, Georgia Tech
Two-time ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American … only the second Georgia Tech softball player to earn All-ACC honors in her first three seasons … two-time first-team all-region … ACC Rookie of the Year and second-team All-American as a freshman … ACC and Georgia Tech home run record holder and closing in on both RBI marks as well … already ranks in top five in school history for most offensive statistics including batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, doubles, fielding percentage and on-base percentage as well as home runs and RBI … three-time ACC honor roll member.
Jason Haniger, Baseball, Georgia Tech
Talented, hard-working catcher that was selected in the 19th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates but elected to return for his senior season … Tabbed to the CoSIDA Academic All-District third team in 2008 … One of two Yellow Jackets to be named to the 2008 NCAA Athens Regional All-Tournament Team … Recipient of the prestigious Bobby Dodd Scholarship at Georgia Tech in 2008 … Named to the ACC Honor Roll in 2006, 2007 and 2008 … Also tabbed to the Academic All-ACC Baseball Team in 2008 … In his second year representing the baseball team on Georgia Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board … Has hit over .300 in each of his four seasons on the Flats.
Dean Muhtadi, Football, Maryland
A hard-nosed defensive lineman who was a regular contributor as a junior and senior … played tackle and end … saw action in 19 games, including three starts, in his two seasons as a Terp … a member of two bowl teams … tallied 21 tackles, including 2.5 sacks (tied for third on the team), as a senior … transferred from Christopher Newport University after the 2005 season and sat out 2006 … an Academic All-ACC choice in 2008.
Sarah Scholl, Field Hockey, Maryland
A three-time Academic All-ACC selection …. A sparkplug on the front lines for Maryland’s three national championships in the past four seasons … Scholl, a native of Center Valley, Pa., set personal bests in her senior season with seven goals and 17 total points … In the ACC Championship game against Wake Forest, Scholl gave the Terps a 3-2 lead with her tally midway through the second half. She would go on to have her most prolific game as a collegian in the Terps’ 8-5 victory over Duke in the NCAA quarterfinal, in which she scored twice and added an assist … A food sciences major, Scholl will be attending graduate school with an eye towards working for a health food company. While at Maryland, Scholl has served as a fitness instructor with the Campus Recreation Services.
Christen Vagts, Water Polo, Maryland
One of the top players in school history and among the top defenders in the nation … entered the season ranked fifth in school history in points (118), goals (78), assists (40) and shots (235) … also eighth on the shooting percentage (.332) chart … a three-year starter at center defender … posted the second-most assists (24) and steals (58) on the team last season … a Kinesiology major.
Britta Boesing, Swimming and Diving, Miami
The best swimmer in the Christie Shefchunas era in Coral Gables … A part of five school record times, including two individual (100 backstroke, 200 breaststroke) … Is listed 28 times in various events throughout the UM Top 10 Performance Lists in school history … Established five new school-best performances in the 2009 ACC Swimming & Diving Championships … This season, she leads all Hurricane swimmers on the UM Top 10 season-best performance list with 39 marks … Sports Administration major.
Corynn Carino, Women’s Soccer, Miami
Co-captain as a senior… A member of the All-ACC Academic Team in 2008 … Second on Miami’s all-time list in game played (77) and tied for fourth in games started (70)… Her 6,580 minute played is more than any other Hurricane… Anchored a defense that set a school record with 11 shutouts… The goals against average in her four years are the four best in school history.
Nene Kamate, Women’s Track and Field, Miami
Ran her career-bests in the 60-meter dash in 2008 with a time 7.79… During the outdoor season of 2008, she ran a time of 24.26 in the 200-meter dash, also a personal best… A member of the 2008 4×100 relay team that reached the NCAA Qualifying Standard on four occasions, with the best time coming in a victory at the Penn Relays at 45.04.
Brock Baker, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, North Carolina
Working toward a double major in biology and Romance languages … Attending UNC on a Morehead-Cain Scholarship, the University’s most prestigious merit scholarship … Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll the Dean’s List … Recipient of the Sterling Stoudemire Medal for Excellence in Romance Languages … Recipient of Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athlete Award for the cross country team … 2008 All-ACC Academic Team selection for cross country … Represents his team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and serves as part of the SAAC Executive Board and the ACC SAAC … Member of the Undergraduate Honor Court … Recipient of the Three-Dimensional Leader Award, the Carolina Leadership Academy’s highest honor … Serves on the University Teach Awards Committee.
Kelly Davies, Volleyball, North Carolina
Majoring in journalism … Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and the Dean’s List … Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House and the UNC Children’s Hospital … Works as a reporter for Carolina Week, student television program … A defensive specialist for the Tar Heel volleyball team … Had the team’s third-highest serve percentage as a senior … Has contributed to the team despite battling injuries throughout her career.
Kelly Taylor, Women’s Lacrosse, North Carolina
Majoring in communication studies … Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and the Dean’s List … 2008 All-ACC Academic Team selection for women’s lacrosse in 2008 … Volunteers as a tutor and mentor in the Chapel Hill school system … Recipient of the Three-Dimensional Leader Award, the Carolina Leadership Academy’s highest honor … Second-team All-Region in 2008 and All-ACC Tournament in 2007 … Former member of the U.S. Developmental women’s lacrosse national team .
Aiwane Iboaya. Volleyball, NC State
Stands 10th in school history for total blocks with 316 … Recorded 620 career kills … Led the squad in blocks (120) and was second in kills (231) as a senior in 2008 … Named to the 2008 All-ACC Academic Volleyball Team … Named to the ACC Honor Roll multiple times … Picked up Dean’s List distinction several times.
Tami Krzeszewski, Women’s Soccer, NC State
Co-captain as a junior and senior … One of only four players recognized as a four-time All-ACC Academic selection … Started 74 games over four years, notching three goals and seven assists for 13 career points … Missed only one game at NC State … Made Dean’s List every semester … Social Work major.
Ashley Shepard, Gymnastics, NC State
First-team All-EAGL selection on floor in 2007 and a second-team pick in 2006 … A three-time member of the EAGL All-Academic team and ACC Honor Roll … second-team CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … Shepard’s career-best floor score of 9.9 came during her freshman year, and her best career vault score is a 9.825, achieved in 2007 … Ranked fourth on the floor in the EAGL conference in 2007 and was sixth at the 2007 EAGL Championships in the event …scored a 9.825 on floor at the 2006 NCAA Regionals.
Billie-Jo Grant, Women’s Track and Field, Virginia
A three-time track and field All-American … Was the second-ever Cavalier to win an East Region Championship, winning the discus in 2008 … Was the 2005 ACC Champion in the discus … Won the ECAC shot put championship in 2006 … Finished seventh at the US Indoor Championships in the shot put in 2008 and qualified for the 2008 US Olympic Trials in the discus … Four-time All-ACC performer … Holds Virginia’s school records in the shot put and discus.
Ryan Hurley, Men’s Swimming and Diving, Virginia
Four-year ACC Academic Honor Roll member … served as two-year team co-captain … a two-time All-ACC selection in the 200 breaststroke … 2007 All-ACC in the 100 breaststroke … three-time NCAA qualifier … redshirted the 2007-08 season to compete with the U.S. National Team and train for Olympic Trials … earned two silver medals at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand … represented United States at 2008 Short Course World Championships, placing seventh in 200-meter breaststroke … carried the U.S. flag in the opening ceremonies of the Short Course World Championships … advanced all the way to the finals in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2008 Olympic Trials, finishing seventh overall.
Pat Mellors, Men’s Swimming and Diving, Virginia
Three-year ACC Academic Honor Roll member … 2007 ACC Swimmer of the Year … a seven-time NCAA All-American … a three-time ACC champion in the 200 IM and three-time ACC champion in the 400 IM … also a two-time conference champion as a member of the 800 freestyle relay team … the ACC and Virginia record holder in both the 200 and 400 individual medley events … redshirted the 2007-08 season to compete with the U.S. National Team and train for Olympic Trials … earned a gold medal and set an event record in the 400-meter IM at the 2007 World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand … 2005 ACC Freshman of the Year.
Tasmin Fanning, Women’s Track and Field/’ Cross Country, Virginia Tech
Named to All-ACC Academic teams in cross country and track and field, Academic All-District III second-team, USTFCCCA All-Academic team for cross country and track and field and to the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll in 2007-08… Human nutrition, foods and exercise major with a minor in science/communication …Notched the highest finish ever for a Hokie, male or female, at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, and earned her second consecutive All-America honor in cross country … Became Tech’s only runner, male or female, to win two All-America honors in a career … Won the 2008 NCAA Southeast Regional, another first for a Tech runner, and earned the Southeast Region Athlete of the Year award… Earned all-region recognition all four years of her career
Kim Hickey, Women’s Soccer, Virginia Tech
Started 65 of her 68 games played in her career … Tied for ninth all-time in the Tech record book for career starts … Anchored the Hokie defense and helped Tech record 25 shutouts during her four seasons … Dished out the assist on the game-tying goal in the final seconds against Clemson in 2008 … Named to the 2008 Academic All-ACC Team.
Taylor Walsh, Men’s Soccer, Virginia Tech
A walk-on senior defender … Played 15 matches while starting in nine games this season … Tallied two assists for two points from the backline for the Hokies … Registered his first minutes for Tech on the road against Portland … Started his first match at home against Radford … Clocked 851 minutes in his senior season … A Dean’s List recipient for five of his seven semesters at Tech … A Biomechanical Engineering major … A two-time member of the Virginia Olympic Development Program (ODP) team.
Sam Cronin, Men’s Soccer, Wake Forest
Graduated in December of 2008 with a degree in political science … Named to ESPN The Magazine 2007 Academic All-District Team and also was named the winner of the 2008 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award … Named to ACC All-Academic Team for Men’s Soccer … Started all 98 games during his collegiate career and left Wake Forest as the school’s all-time leader in games played and games started … No. 2 overall draft pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC.
Camelyn Dillon, Women’s Soccer, Wake Forest
Double majoring in Health and Exercise science and Spanish … Currently has a 3.86 cumulative grade point average … Started 20 games during her senior season and finished the year with two assists … Helped Wake Forest to four NCAA Tournament appearances during her career … Named to ACC All-Academic Team for Women’s Soccer.
Natalie Mullikin, Volleyball, Wake Forest
Named the 2008 ACC Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year … Four-time Academic All-ACC recipient … Earned second team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors in each of the last two seasons … Two-time first team All-ACC … Earned AVCA honorable mention All-America honors in 2008 … Two-year captain … Finished as the school’s career-leader in total blocks, block solos, block assists and blocks per set … Third in school-history with 1,423 kills.
Honorary Nominees
Yael Averbuch, Women’s Soccer, North Carolina
Majoring in psychology … Named ESPN The Magazine Women’s Soccer Academic All-America of the Year and National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2008 … ACC Women’s Soccer Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2007 and 2008 … Named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and the Dean’s List … Recipient of the Three-Dimensional Leader Award, the Carolina Leadership Academy’s highest honor … Helped UNC to four conference championships and the 2006 and 2008 NCAA titles … Three-time All-America selection and three-time Academic All-America pick … 2006 Soccer Buzz National Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year … Holds the program record for career games started with 105 … The fourth pick in the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) Draft … Member of the U.S. Under-23 team and the National Team pool .
Amanda Blumenherst. Women’s Golf, Duke
2008 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion … three-time National Player of the Year, three-time Golfstat award winner, three-time first team All-America and three-time All-ACC honoree … owns 11 career individual victories … entered her senior year with a school-record 14-tournament streak finishing in the top five … 2006 and 2008 U.S. Curtis Cup team member … led Duke to three ACC Championships and two NCAA titles in three years … two-time winner of the Honda Award … two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America … won the Edith Cummings Munson Golf Award as a freshman and Dinah Shore Trophy as a junior … three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll … 2008 ACC Women’s Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year … three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.
Andrew Carraway, Baseball, Virginia
Co-captain of 2009 Virginia baseball team … Living on the Lawn at UVa this year – one of the highest honors bestowed upon a UVa student … Three-time selection to All-ACC Academic Baseball Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll … Serves on Council of UVa’s Student-Athlete Mentor program … Two-time ACC Pitcher of the Week selection in 2008 … Only pitcher in NCAA Division I last year to rank among top 30 nationally in strikeouts and fewest walks per nine innings.
Dan Gronkowski, Football, Maryland
A three-year starting tight who evolved into an all-league performer … played in 41 career games, including 29 starts, all over his last three seasons … posted 39 career receptions for 390 yards and four touchdowns … a 2008 honorable mention All-ACC honoree … graduated in three years (May 2007) and currently pursuing an MBA … a three-time ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America nominee and two-time member of the All-District II team … also a two-time Academic All-ACC honoree.
Ben McCauley, Men’s Basketball, NC State
Became the 42nd player in NC state history to score 1,000 career points … Will finish his career with over 120 games played, and over 80 career starts … One of only six NC State players to account for 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 200 assists in a career … Will finish his career ranked in the school’s top-10 for both field goal percentage and offensive rebounds … A 2007 All-ACC honorable mention performer and ACC all-tournament second-team in 2007 … Named to the All-ACC Academic team all three of his previous seasons, and named to the ACC Honor Roll in both 2006 and 2008.
Jack McClinton, Men’s Basketball, Miami
Two-time ACC All-Academic Team selection… The only 2007-08 First Team All-ACC men’s basketball pick to also earn all-academic honors…Two-time UM Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member… The ACC’s all-time three-point field goal percentage leader and second in conference history in career free throw percentage… Miami’s scoring leader for three-straights seasons, owns school records in three-pointers made (season and career), three-point field goal percentage (game and career) and free throw percentage (game, season and career)… Ranks seventh on Miami’s all-time scorers list in just three seasons… Named to the 2008-09 Naismith Mid-Season List and Wooden Preseason List…2006-07 Third Team All-ACC… Three-time ACC Player of the Week.
