Feb. 23, 2005

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Four North Carolina scholar-athletes have been named recipients of postgraduate scholarships, as announced by Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John D. Swofford.

North Carolina's Carey Fetting-Smith (field hockey), Olivia Trusty (gymnastics) and Katie Wright (volleyball) each received the Weaver-James-Corrigan Award, while Jason Brown (football) was an honorary winner.

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.

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 - Jason 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.

Jason Brown, North Carolina, Football
2004 First-Team All-ACC selection ... First-Team All-America by Pro Football Weekly ... Finalist for the Dave Rimington Award as the nation's top center ... Chosen to play in the Senior Bowl ... Named ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week three times in 2004 ... Did not allow a single sack in 2003 ... Started 39 games in his career, including 36 straight at center from 2002-04.

Carey Fetting-Smith, North Carolina, Field Hockey
Four-year starter and two-year team captain ... Helped North Carolina to 2004 ACC Championship, the team's first crown since 1997 ... Recipient of the 2003 Carmen and Michael Hooker Leadership Award ... Played for the 2004 U.S. Under-21 Team, the 2003 U.S. Under-20 Team and the 2002 U.S. Under-19 National Team ... Named to the NFHCA National Academic Team and to the ACC Academic Honor Roll ... Serves on the Student-Athlete Council.

Olivia Trusty, North Carolina, Gymnastics
Ranks among the top 10 all-time performers at North Carolina in every event ... School record-holder on uneven bars (9.95) ... Runner-up on floor exercise at 2004 NCAA Southeast Regional ... Competed on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise at 2003 NCAA Regional Championship, placing in the top ten in each event ... Named First Team on vault, floor exercise and in the all-around in 2004 ... Named EAGL All-Academic Team every year during her college career ... Named Academic All-American by National Association of College Gymnastics Coaches for the past two years.

Katie Wright, North Carolina, Volleyball
Led the Tar Heels in blocks and hitting percentage in 2004 ... Served as team captain ... Second on the team in blocks and hitting percentage as a junior ... Received the John C. Lotz Memorial Award for outstanding community service ... Named to the ACC Honor Roll for three-straight years ... Second on the team in hitting percentage as a sophomore.