Yassamin Haririnia Earns ACC Postgraduate Scholarship
Feb. 23, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami rower Yassamin Haririnia is among 29 Atlantic Coast Conference scholar-athletes who received postgraduate scholarships announced by Commissioner John D. Swofford Wednesday. Haririnia earned the Weaver-James-Corrigan scholarship which is 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.
Haririnia, a Fairfax, Virginia native, is a three-year letterwinner on the Miami squad. During the 2003-04 season she competed with the Varsity 4 crew earning a gold medal at the 2004 FIRA State Championships as well as a silver medal at the 2004 BIG EAST Championships. Haririnia was also a silver and bronze medalist at the 2003 FIRA State Championships and earned a bronze medal with the second Varsity 8 at the 2003 Lexus Central/South Region Sprints. In 2002, with the Varsity 8 crew, Haririnia won a silver medal at the 2002 FIRA State Championships and a bronze medal at the 2002 SIRA Championships.
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.
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, 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, being presented for the first time, 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.
Recipients of the Weaver-James-Corrigan Awards are as follows: Clemson – Mary Nell Green (rowing), Franchele Klaus (swimming), Gisele Oliveira (track & field); Duke – Michael Hatch (cross country/track & field), Stephanie Istvan (volleyball); Florida State – Aaron Cheesman (baseball), Mihaela Moldovan (tennis), Jezali Ratliff (soccer); Georgia Tech – Nate Curry (football), Zebulon Sion (track & field); Maryland – Megan Knepper (swimming), Katayoon Shahrokh (volleyball); Miami – Yassamin Haririnia (rowing); North Carolina – Carey Fetting-Smith (field hockey), Olivia Trusty (gymnastics), Catherine Wright (volleyball); NC State – Eric Hoverstad (track & field), Leslie Jimison (cross country/track & field), Anderson Smith (cross country/track & field); Virginia – Luke Anderson (swimming), Gillian Hatch (soccer); Virginia Tech – Thomas Blaszak (baseball), Erin Gibson (basketball), Jessica Morris (cross country/track & field); Wake Forest – Karin Coetzee (tennis), Ashley Hoagland (golf).
Recipients of the Jim and Pat Thacker Awards are as follows: Duke – Johanna Bischof (field hockey); Georgia Tech – Jayme Gergen (volleyball); Virginia – Christopher Greenwood (swimming).
Recipients of the Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Awards are as follows: Duke – Casey McCluskey (soccer); Georgia Tech – Nicholas Thompson (golf); Maryland – Justin Maxwell (baseball); North Carolina – JW Brown (football); Virginia – Jessica Trainor (soccer); Virginia Tech – Bryan Randall (football).
The 35 student-athletes will be honored Thursday, April 14, 2005, in Greensboro, N.C., at a luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis. The luncheon will be held at the Koury Convention Center.
