Trio Honored with ACC Postgraduate Scholarships
February 23, 2017 | Field Hockey, Football, Boston College Athletics, Fencing
Bichette, Hampsch and Kavalec are recognized for on- and off-field performance by the conference
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference announced today a list of 54 student-athletes who have been selected as 2017 Weaver-James-Corrigan Award recipients. This year's list includes three student-athletes who will receive the Thacker Award and nine student-athletes who plan to pursue professional careers in their chosen sports and were named honorary recipients.
Three student-athletes from Boston College were included in the group: Renee Bichette (fencing), Audra Hampsch (field hockey) and Kevin Kavalec (football).
Bichette, a senior from Orlando, Fla., was a 2016 NCAA qualifier and All-American. In the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Association's Fall Invitational on November 6, she came away with the gold in women's epee.
Hampsch, a native of Hopedale, Mass., assumed starting goalkeeper duties as a senior in 2016. In her only season as a starter, she earned NFHCA All-Northeast Region and All-ACC honors. Hampsch led the conference in saves (108) and saves per game (5.40) while posting 10 wins and two shutouts. Also a standout in the classroom, she was a consistent presence on the Boston College Dean's List. Hampsch was a member of the 2016 ACC All-Academic Team and three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll.
Kavalec was a key starter on one of the nation's top defenses in 2016 and also was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America second team. On the field, Kavalec started all 13 games as a senior and finished his career with 33 tackles for a loss, tied for sixth in BC record books. He was named the 2016 recipient of the Thomas F. Scanlan Award, the highest honor presented to a Boston College football senior.
The student-athletes will be honored at the annual Cone Health ACC Postgraduate Luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club and presented by ESPN on April 12 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel Imperial Ballroom in Greensboro.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan and Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $5,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
In addition to those receiving scholarship funds, nine student-athletes will receive the Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Award. They include Georgia Tech's Harrison Butker (football), Duke's Christina Gibbons (women's soccer), Wake Forest's Jacori Hayes (men's soccer), Louisville's Dolly Nyemah (track and field), Notre Dame's Sergio Perkovic (men's lacrosse), Miami's Davon Reed (men's basketball), North Carolina's Ronald Schneider (men's tennis), Clemson's Deshaun Watson (football) and NC State's Alexia Zevnik (women's swimming).
The Weaver-James-Corrigan Award is named in honor of the late Jim Weaver and Bob James, as well as Gene Corrigan, the first three ACC commissioners.
The league's first commissioner, James H. Weaver, served the conference from 1954-70 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 in that capacity 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 awarded 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, North Carolina. 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 postgraduate studies at an ACC institution. North Carolina's Emma Bozek (field hockey), Florida State's Thaxter Hensley (men's swimming) and Duke's Patrick Miller (men's swimming) are this year's Thacker Award recipients.
2017 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Emily Auld, Miami, Women's Soccer
Christopher Barr, Miami, Baseball
Renee Bichette, Boston College, Women's Fencing
Robin Blazing, Duke, Field Hockey
Emma Bozek, North Carolina, Field Hockey *
Caroline Buscaglia, Virginia Tech, Women's Swimming
Emily Byorth, Clemson, Women's Soccer
Gabrielle Byorth, Clemson, Women's Soccer
Hayley Carter, North Carolina, Women's Tennis
Kinga Cichowska, Pittsburgh, Women's Swimming
Elizabeth Cooper, Florida State, Softball
Andrea Cottrell, Lousiville, Women's Swimming
Andrea Demick, Georgia Tech, Women's Swimming
Luisa Fernandez, Wake Forest, Women's Tennis
Dontez Ford, Pittsburgh, Football
Taylor Francis, Pittsburgh, Women's Soccer
Kimmy Guerin, Wake Forest, Women's Tennis
Audra Hampsch, Boston College, Field Hockey
Thaxter Hensley, Florida State, Men's Swimming *
Sarah Howard, North Carolina, Women's Track and Field
Ryan Janvion, Wake Forest, Football
Marie Johnston, Virginia Tech, Women's Soccer
Abby Jones, Clemson, Women's Soccer
Kevin Kavalec, Boston College, Football
Melanie Keil, Florida State, Volleyball
Lee Kiefer, Notre Dame, Women's Fencing
Natalie Labonge, NC State, Women's Swimming
Breyana Mason, Virginia, Women's Basketball
Jennifer Mathurin, NC State, Women's Basketball
Erin McCrudden, Louisville, Field Hockey
Saydee McQuay, Syracuse, Rowing
Patrick Miller, Duke, Men's Swimming *
Kaeli O'Conner, Syracuse, Women's Lacrosse
Kaleigh Olmsted, Notre Dame, Women's Soccer
Lindsey Owens, Virginia Tech, Volleyball
Adam Palamar, Syracuse, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Lauren Pitz, Georgia Tech, Volleyball
Shannon Rauth, Virginia, Women's Swimming
Corey Robinson, Notre Dame, Football
Anna Julia Schippert, Miami, Women's Swimming
Morgan Stearns, Virginia, Women's Soccer
Grigory Tarasevich, Louisville, Men's Swimming
Jordan Tucker, Duke, Volleyball
Teegan Van Gunst, Georgia Tech, Volleyball
Sarah Williams, NC State, Women's Basketball
Honorary Postgraduate Scholars
Harrison Butker, Georgia Tech, Football
Christina Gibbons, Duke, Women's Soccer
Jacori Hayes, Wake Forest, Men's Soccer
Dolly Nyemah, Louisville, Track and Field
Sergio Perkovic, Notre Dame, Men's Lacrosse
Davon Reed, Miami, Men's Basketball
Ronald Schneider, North Carolina, Men's Tennis
Deshaun Watson, Clemson, Football
Alexia Zevnik, NC State, Women's Swimming
* - Thacker Award honoree
Three student-athletes from Boston College were included in the group: Renee Bichette (fencing), Audra Hampsch (field hockey) and Kevin Kavalec (football).
Bichette, a senior from Orlando, Fla., was a 2016 NCAA qualifier and All-American. In the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Association's Fall Invitational on November 6, she came away with the gold in women's epee.
Hampsch, a native of Hopedale, Mass., assumed starting goalkeeper duties as a senior in 2016. In her only season as a starter, she earned NFHCA All-Northeast Region and All-ACC honors. Hampsch led the conference in saves (108) and saves per game (5.40) while posting 10 wins and two shutouts. Also a standout in the classroom, she was a consistent presence on the Boston College Dean's List. Hampsch was a member of the 2016 ACC All-Academic Team and three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll.
Kavalec was a key starter on one of the nation's top defenses in 2016 and also was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America second team. On the field, Kavalec started all 13 games as a senior and finished his career with 33 tackles for a loss, tied for sixth in BC record books. He was named the 2016 recipient of the Thomas F. Scanlan Award, the highest honor presented to a Boston College football senior.
The student-athletes will be honored at the annual Cone Health ACC Postgraduate Luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club and presented by ESPN on April 12 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel Imperial Ballroom in Greensboro.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan and Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $5,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
In addition to those receiving scholarship funds, nine student-athletes will receive the Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Award. They include Georgia Tech's Harrison Butker (football), Duke's Christina Gibbons (women's soccer), Wake Forest's Jacori Hayes (men's soccer), Louisville's Dolly Nyemah (track and field), Notre Dame's Sergio Perkovic (men's lacrosse), Miami's Davon Reed (men's basketball), North Carolina's Ronald Schneider (men's tennis), Clemson's Deshaun Watson (football) and NC State's Alexia Zevnik (women's swimming).
The Weaver-James-Corrigan Award is named in honor of the late Jim Weaver and Bob James, as well as Gene Corrigan, the first three ACC commissioners.
The league's first commissioner, James H. Weaver, served the conference from 1954-70 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 in that capacity 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 awarded 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, North Carolina. 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 postgraduate studies at an ACC institution. North Carolina's Emma Bozek (field hockey), Florida State's Thaxter Hensley (men's swimming) and Duke's Patrick Miller (men's swimming) are this year's Thacker Award recipients.
2017 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients
Emily Auld, Miami, Women's Soccer
Christopher Barr, Miami, Baseball
Renee Bichette, Boston College, Women's Fencing
Robin Blazing, Duke, Field Hockey
Emma Bozek, North Carolina, Field Hockey *
Caroline Buscaglia, Virginia Tech, Women's Swimming
Emily Byorth, Clemson, Women's Soccer
Gabrielle Byorth, Clemson, Women's Soccer
Hayley Carter, North Carolina, Women's Tennis
Kinga Cichowska, Pittsburgh, Women's Swimming
Elizabeth Cooper, Florida State, Softball
Andrea Cottrell, Lousiville, Women's Swimming
Andrea Demick, Georgia Tech, Women's Swimming
Luisa Fernandez, Wake Forest, Women's Tennis
Dontez Ford, Pittsburgh, Football
Taylor Francis, Pittsburgh, Women's Soccer
Kimmy Guerin, Wake Forest, Women's Tennis
Audra Hampsch, Boston College, Field Hockey
Thaxter Hensley, Florida State, Men's Swimming *
Sarah Howard, North Carolina, Women's Track and Field
Ryan Janvion, Wake Forest, Football
Marie Johnston, Virginia Tech, Women's Soccer
Abby Jones, Clemson, Women's Soccer
Kevin Kavalec, Boston College, Football
Melanie Keil, Florida State, Volleyball
Lee Kiefer, Notre Dame, Women's Fencing
Natalie Labonge, NC State, Women's Swimming
Breyana Mason, Virginia, Women's Basketball
Jennifer Mathurin, NC State, Women's Basketball
Erin McCrudden, Louisville, Field Hockey
Saydee McQuay, Syracuse, Rowing
Patrick Miller, Duke, Men's Swimming *
Kaeli O'Conner, Syracuse, Women's Lacrosse
Kaleigh Olmsted, Notre Dame, Women's Soccer
Lindsey Owens, Virginia Tech, Volleyball
Adam Palamar, Syracuse, Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Lauren Pitz, Georgia Tech, Volleyball
Shannon Rauth, Virginia, Women's Swimming
Corey Robinson, Notre Dame, Football
Anna Julia Schippert, Miami, Women's Swimming
Morgan Stearns, Virginia, Women's Soccer
Grigory Tarasevich, Louisville, Men's Swimming
Jordan Tucker, Duke, Volleyball
Teegan Van Gunst, Georgia Tech, Volleyball
Sarah Williams, NC State, Women's Basketball
Honorary Postgraduate Scholars
Harrison Butker, Georgia Tech, Football
Christina Gibbons, Duke, Women's Soccer
Jacori Hayes, Wake Forest, Men's Soccer
Dolly Nyemah, Louisville, Track and Field
Sergio Perkovic, Notre Dame, Men's Lacrosse
Davon Reed, Miami, Men's Basketball
Ronald Schneider, North Carolina, Men's Tennis
Deshaun Watson, Clemson, Football
Alexia Zevnik, NC State, Women's Swimming
* - Thacker Award honoree
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