Four Canes Earn ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recognition
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference is proud to celebrate and recognize over 60 exceptional student-athletes, including 32 selected as 2026 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship recipients, three of whom will also receive the prestigious Jim & Pat Thacker Scholarship Award.
In addition to the scholarship honorees, a total of 33 accomplished student-athletes who plan to pursue professional careers in their respective sports or chosen fields of study have been named to the 2026 ACC Excellence Award list.
For Miami, swimmer Sarah Sensenbrenner and Robert Joseph from men’s track and field were Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Recipients. NCAA champion diver Chiara Pellacani and football All-American Rueben Bain were named to the ACC Excellence Award list.
“Each year, our ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipients redefine what it means to be a student-athlete,” said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. “This year’s 63 honorees exemplify the relentless drive, leadership and integrity that distinguish the ACC both academically and athletically. Their ability to pursue excellence at the highest levels of competition while thriving in the classroom speaks volumes about their character and commitment. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and remain fully committed to supporting their continued success beyond their collegiate careers.”
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford and Jim & Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree after completing their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $9,000 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 and were chosen by a vote of the league’s FARs at the ACC Winter Meetings
To be eligible for ACC Postgraduate Scholarships, nominees must have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically with an overall minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or its equivalent. The student-athlete must have completed at least seven semesters and complete their baccalaureate degree, at an ACC institution, prior to receiving the postgraduate scholarship, and performed with distinction as a member of a varsity team specifically represented by local, conference, regional and/or national athletic recognition. The nominees also must have conducted themselves, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to themselves, their institution, intercollegiate athletics, and the ideals and objectives of higher education.
The ACC has selected postgraduate scholarship recipients annually since 1971. Over that time, the league has provided nearly $5.8 million to over 1,000 ACC student-athletes.
Each member institution may nominate a maximum of two candidates to be eligible for the postgraduate scholarship awards. Institutions are recommended to nominate a student-athlete from one men’s and one women’s sport.
Student-athletes nominated for the ACC Excellence Award are also eligible for the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship.
The following student-athletes will be recognized as 2026 ACC Postgraduate Scholars:
Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Award Recipients
Name, Sport, Institution
Ask Ekeland, Men’s Soccer, Boston College
Eva Kluskens, Field Hockey, Boston College
Matthew Waddell, Men’s Rowing, California
Olivia Sharratt, Field Hockey, California
Isabella Rawl, Women’s Golf, Clemson
Paris Masaracchia, Women’s Lacrosse, Clemson
Charles Johnson, Men’s Lacrosse, Duke
Sydney Smith, Women’s Lacrosse, Duke
Audrey Koenig, Women’s Beach Volleyball, Florida State
Tommaso Baravelli, Men’s Swimming and Diving, Florida State
Alejandra Cruz, Women’s Tennis, Georgia Tech
Joe Fusile, Football, Georgia Tech
Chloe Cuzzupe, Field Hockey, Louisville
Roman Kuleshov, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Louisville
Robert Joseph, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Miami
Sarah Sensenbrenner, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Miami
Gwendolyn Fink, Women’s Gymnastics, North Carolina
Trevor Paschall, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, North Carolina
Aidan Payne, Men’s Soccer, NC State
Grace Hartman, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field, NC State
Julia Clavi, Women’s Rowing, Notre Dame
Thomas Ricciardelli, Men’s Lacrosse, Notre Dame
Claire Jansen, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Pitt
Elise Evans, Women’s Soccer, Stanford
Emma Muchnik, Women’s Lacrosse, Syracuse
Ruben Rojas Betanzos, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Syracuse
Lauren Kenah, Field Hockey, Virginia
Nick Hamilton, Wrestling, Virginia
Kylie Aldridge , Softball, Virginia Tech
Lauren Hargrove, Women’s Soccer, Virginia Tech
Amelia Eve Frey, Field Hockey, Wake Forest
Paige Elizabeth Crawford, Women’s Volleyball, Wake Forest
Jim & Pat Thacker Scholarship Award Recipients
Name, Sport, Institution
Olivia Sharratt, Field Hockey, California
Roman Kuleshov, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Louisville
Thomas Ricciardelli, Men’s Lacrosse, Notre Dame
2026 ACC Excellence Award List
Name, Sport, Institution
Luca Lombardo, Football, Boston College
Shea Baker, Women’s Lacrosse, Boston College
Jasper Smith-Gordon, Men’s Gymnastics, California
Torre Anderson, Women’s Track & Field, California
Aidan Knaak, Baseball, Clemson
Gabrielle Clark, Women’s Gymnastics, Clemson
Aidan Maguire, Men’s Lacrosse, Duke
Andie Smith, Women’s Golf, Duke
Sophia Nguyen, Women’s Soccer, Florida State
Anna Hadjiloizou, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Georgia Tech
Drew Burress, Baseball, Georgia Tech
Isabella Bianco, Field Hockey, Louisville
Hannah Sherman, Volleyball, Louisville
Chiara Pellacani, Women’s Swimming & Diving, Miami
Rueben Bain Jr., Football, Miami
Keaton Vo, Men’s Golf, North Carolina
Reese Brantmeier, Women’s Tennis, North Carolina
Anthony Carter Jr., Football, NC State
Leah Klenke, Women’s Soccer, Notre Dame
William Donovan, Men’s Lacrosse, Notre Dame
Jackson Gilman, Men’s Soccer, Pitt
Enzo Panozzo, Men’s Soccer, SMU
Mackenzie Lee, Women’s Golf, SMU
Brandy Atuatasi, Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Stanford
Zach Buckey, Football, Stanford
Benjamin Campbell Reide, Men’s Rowing, Syracuse
Dana Shearer, Women’s Rowing, Syracuse
Gary Martin, Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field, Virginia
Lia Godfrey, Women’s Soccer, Virginia
Kylie Aldridge , Softball, Virginia Tech *
Lauren Hargrove, Women’s Soccer, Virginia Tech *
Cooper Andrew Flax, Men’s Soccer, Wake Forest
Dhakshineswar Suresh Ekambaram, Men’s Tennis, Wake Forest
*also a recipient of the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford-Award
About the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Award
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Award is named in honor of former ACC commissioners Jim Weaver, Bob James, Gene Corrigan and John Swofford. 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. His early leadership and uncompromising integrity are largely responsible for the excellent reputation enjoyed by the ACC today.
Robert C. James, a former 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.
John Swofford was named the fourth commissioner of the ACC on July 1, 1997, and served until June 2021. He was instrumental in the launch of the ACC Network. ACC programs won 92 national titles in 19 sports while he was commissioner.
Before 1994, the Weaver-James postgraduate scholarships were awarded as separate honors, including the Jim Weaver Award, the Marie James Award and the Bob James Award.
About the Thacker Award
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.
About the ACC Excellence Award
The ACC Excellence Award recognizes outstanding graduates from our ACC member institutions. The goal of the award is to highlight the students embodying the student-athlete ideal. The brand of the ACC is our strong history of providing world-class education and competition. The awardees are exemplary students, athletes, and contributors to the community and society and serve as an example to their fellow students.
