Four Blue Devils Receive Postgraduate Honors
February 19, 2015
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Atlantic Coast Conference
Commissioner John Swofford announced Thursday a list of 45 student-athletes who
have been selected for the 2015 Weaver-James-Corrigan Award, including three
student-athletes who will receive the Thacker Award. An additional eight
student-athletes who plan to pursue professional careers in their chosen sports
were named honorary recipients. Duke’s Sarah Collins, David
Helton and
Claire Vannelli were named
Weaver-James-Corrigan Award recipients while Elizabeth Williams was
an honorary selection.
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.
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.
Vannelli has been a
key member of the varsity eight for all four years of her Duke rowing career.
She has led the boat to second, third and fifth-place finishes during her three
trips to the ACC Championship. Last spring, she helped Duke appear at No. 20 in
the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association/US Rowing Coaches Poll. She has also
been a part of two varsity eights that were elected as the ACC Crew of the
Week. Vannelli has excelled in the classroom, earning Collegiate Coaches Rowing
Association Scholar-Athlete accolades twice and being a three-time selection to
the ACC Academic Honor Roll and two-time honoree on the All-ACC Academic Rowing
Team.
The 53 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 15 at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
CONGRATS CLAIRE!
