PHOTO GALLERYApril 21, 2008
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
The North Carolina Department of Athletics celebrated the accomplishments of its student-athletes during the 2007-08 school year on Monday evening at the annual All-Sports Banquet, held at the Dean E. Smith Center. While the teams' athletic performances were acknowledged, the focus was on academic and community service recognition.
"This evening gives us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate all that our student-athletes do outside of athletics," said UNC Director of Athletics Dick Baddour. "I'm always inspired hearing about their academic achievements and the contributions that they've made to our community. They make our department and the University proud."
The program began with dinner and a video presentation of athletic highlights from the year. Following remarks by Bekah Brinkley, a senior volleyball player from Asheville who serves as Student-Athlete Advisory Council president, administrators announced the winners of department and Atlantic Coast Conference awards for 2007-08.
Seniors Barden Berry and Tyra Johnson were honored as recipients of the Mildred McCaskill Award, which is presented to one male and one female who demonstrate excellence in athletics, scholarship and community service. Berry, a member of the men's golf team, is a psychology major from Kinston, N.C. Johnson, a member of the women's track and field team, is a sociology major from Henderson, N.C.
Berry and Alison McGinnis were honored with the ACC Senior Scholar Award, which goes to one male and one female from each conference school who demonstrate excellence in academics and athletics. McGinnis, a member of the women's track and field team, is an exercise and sport science major from Arlington Heights, Ill.
Rob Wooten, a senior on the baseball team, received the John Lotz Award, given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit of the late John Lotz, who served as UNC's Assistant Athletic Director of Campus and Community Relations and also was an assistant basketball coach for the Tar Heels. The award goes to a student-athlete who succeeds under adverse circumstances, overcoming difficulties while maintaining a positive attitude. Wooten is an exercise and sport science major from Fremont, N.C.
Six student-athletes received the ACC Top Six for Service Award, which is presented to athletes at each conference school who have demonstrated dedication and commitment to community service and outreach programs. Tar Heels honored were Christie Clark, a history major from Tulsa, Okla., and a member of the volleyball team; Laura Filip, a journalism/communication studies double major from Durham, N.C. and a member of the women's swimming and diving team; Mike Munnelly, a senior business major from Garden City, N.Y., and a member of the men's lacrosse team; Brianna O'Donnell, a sophomore journalism major from Collegeville, Pa., and member of the field hockey team; Kennedy Tinsley, a junior exercise and sport science major from Greensboro, N.C., and member of the football team; and Kelly Woodruff, a senior journalism/exercise and sport science major from Shoreline, Wash., and member of the women's swimming and diving team.
The winners of several previously-announced awards and honors were recognized at the banquet. Filip was the recipient of the Tatum Award, a University honor presented to a student-athlete who has performed with distinction in his or her sport and who has contributed to the campus through participation in outreach activities.
Four student-athletes were recognized as the winners of conference honors. Ariel Harris (women's soccer), Tyra Johnson (women's track and field) and Heather Kendell (field hockey) were recipients of 2007-08 ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarships, while Rachel Dawson (field hockey) received an ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Award.
Three student-athletes were tapped for Phi Beta Kappa honorary society during the 2007-08 school year. They are Berry, Kendell and J.J. Raynor from the women's fencing team.
Baddour presented Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete Awards to an outstanding member of each team. As announced earlier this semester, recipients for 2007-08 are: Seth Williams (Baseball); Bobby Frasor (Men's Basketball); Meghan Austin (Women's Basketball); Alex Ray (Men's Cross Country); Megan Kaltenbach (Women's Cross Country); Jamie Lawrence (Men's Fencing); Lori Sullivan (Women's Fencing); Heather Kendell (Field Hockey); Joe Dailey (Football); Barden Berry (Men's Golf); Ann Laney (Women's Golf); Alice Xu (Gymnastics); Tim Kaiser (Men's Lacrosse); Erica LaGrow (Women's Lacrosse); Lisy McIntee (Rowing); Michael Callahan (Men's Soccer); Anna Rodenbough (Women's Soccer); Breanna Brown (Softball); Keith Laabs (Men's Swimming and Diving); Laura Filip (Women's Swimming and Diving); Tristan Heinrich (Men's Tennis); Laura Reichert (Women's Tennis); Ian Reynolds (Men's Track and Field); Tyra Johnson (Women's Track and Field); Christie Clark (Volleyball); and Keegan Mueller (Wrestling).
