Three Student-Athletes Awarded ACC Post-Graduate Scholarships
March 8, 2007
Coral Gables, Fla. (www. hurricanesports.com) – – Three University of Miami Student-Athletes, diver Heather Bounds and rowers Valerie Webb and Karen Wiley are among the 45 Atlantic Coast Conference scholar-athletes who have been named recipients of postgraduate scholarships, as announced by Commissioner John D. Swofford. 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.
The 45 student-athletes will be honored April 12, 2007, in Greensboro, N.C., at a luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club. The luncheon will be held at the Koury Convention Center.
UM Student-Athlete Biographical Sketches
Heather Bounds, Diving, Miami
Captured the silver medal at the 2007 ACC Championships on both the one-meter (284.3) and three-meter (353.25) springboards … Earned Honorable Mention All-America honors at the 2006 NCAA Championships in the three- and 10-meter competition … Garnered Co-ACC Women’s Diver of the Year honors in 2006 by capturing first place on platform (314.75) and fourth in the three-meter board (324.85)…Was invited by USA Diving to the second of two 2007 World Championship selection camps, to participate in the 10-meter… Competed in the 2006 Speedo U.S. Open Championships and the 2004 Olympic Diving Trials … A seven-time Dean’s List and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll recipient … A five-time Provost’s Honor Roll recipient… A two-time ACC Honor Roll selection … Was named to the All-ACC Academic team as a junior … A five-time Book Buster honor recipient.
Valerie Webb, Rowing, Miami
A third-year letter winner…As a senior, has competed in the junior varsity eight … Competed in the junior varsity eight as a junior and finished in third place in the `C’ Final at the South/Central Sprints … A silver medalist at the 2006 FIRA State Championships … Took fourth place at the 2006 ACC Championships … In 2006 was a bronze medalist at the SIRA Championships and silver medalist at the FIRA State Championships … Was a silver medalist in the junior varsity eight and the junior varsity four `B’ at the 2005 FIRA State Championships … A silver medalist at the 2004 BIG EAST Championships … Earned Provost Honor Roll accolades as a junior … A two-time Dean’s List and three-time Athletic Directors Honor Roll recipient.
Karen Wiley, Rowing, Miami
Finished 10th out of twenty boats in the championship four (4+) at the 2006 Head of the Charles Regatta … Competed in the varsity eight in 2005-06 and had a first-place finish in the varsity eight `C’ Final at the 2006 South/Central Sprints … A gold medalist in the varsity quad at the 2005 Rivanna Romp and silver medalist in the double at the Head of the Creek … A gold medalist in the championship eight at the 2004 Head of the Creek … Won a gold medal in the open eight and a bronze medal in the championship four at the 2004 Head of the Chattahoochee … Finished fourth in the varsity eight at the 2005 ACC Championships … Was a bronze medalist at the 2004 BIG EAST Championships … A two-time Provost’s Honor Roll recipient… A five-time Dean’s List honoree… A seven-time Athletic Director’s Honor Roll recipient … A two-time ACC All-Academic team nominee.
In addition to those receiving scholarship funds, nine 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, 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.
