Four Tigers Receive 2007 Postgraduate Scholarship Awards from the ACC

March 6, 2007

GREENSBORO, NC – Forty-five Atlantic Coast Conference scholar-athletes have been named recipients of postgraduate scholarships, as announced by Commissioner John D. Swofford on Tuesday, and four Tigers were among the winners for 2007. Sarah Cefalu (women’s swimming), Brittney Gamble (rowing) and Thomas Hunter (football) received the Weaver-James-Corrigan Award while Britten Meyer (women’s soccer) was named a Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Award Recipient.

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, 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 45 student-athletes will be honored April 12, 2007, in Greensboro, NC, at a luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club. The luncheon will be held at the Koury Convention Center.

Clemson’s 2007 ACC Postgraduate Award RecipientsSarah Cefalu – Women’s Swimming A member of the ACC Honor Roll in each of her first three years at Clemson and the fall semester of her senior year…Represented the ACC at the NCAA Leadership Foundation Conference in 2006…A recipient of the Top 6 Community Service Award…Was a co-captain for two years…Holds the ninth-fastest time in Clemson history in the 200 IM (2:04.48) and 200 breaststroke (2:18.91)…Holds the eighth-fastest time in school history in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.20)…Swam a season-best time at the 2007 ACC Championships in the 200 butterfly (2:03.57) that was also the 10th-best time in Lady Tiger history.

Brittney Gamble – Rowing A three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection…Named a National Scholar Athlete in 2006 by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA)…An Academic All-ACC Rowing team selection in 2006…rowed with the Tigers’ first varsity eight as a junior…rowed with the Tigers’ second varsity eight boat that earned ACC Crew of the Week honors on March 21, 2005.

Thomas Hunter – Football A first team Academic All-ACC selection in 2006…Earned honorable mention All-ACC on the field as a senior…Had 16 receptions for 305 yards in 2005, the reception yardage total was the most by a Clemson tight end in 31 years…A two-year starter at tight end on a pair of eight-win Clemson teams…Finished his career with 44 games played and 17 games started, and had 29 receptions for 425 yards.

Britten Meyer – Women’s Soccer A three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection…Started 43 games and scored four goals and nine assists for 17 career points…Named to the NSCAA Scholar All-America Southeast Region team…Helped the Lady Tigers achieve an NCAA soccer first in 2006 by advancing in three consecutive games in tournament play by winning penalty kicks.

About the Awards 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, NC. 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.