CLEMSON, S.C. – Emily Lamparter (lacrosse, food science and human nutrition) and Lucas Mahlstedt (baseball, physics and astronomy) have been named recipients of the 2025 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Award, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Wednesday. In addition, Andrew Swanson (men’s golf, mathematical sciences) and Rebecca Wells (gymnastics, athletic leadership) have earned ACC Excellence Award recognition, which goes to those who meet the criteria for postgraduate awards but intend to pursue their respective sports professionally.
A total of 59 individuals in the conference were honored, with 35 receiving the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford scholarship. Three Tigers – Lamparter, Mahlstedt and Wells – became the first postgraduate recipients in their respective sports at Clemson.
Lamparter, a senior goalie from Lake Wylie, S.C. is the first recipient from the lacrosse program, now in its third season. Lamparter has started all 40 games in program history and was a second-team All-ACC selection in 2024 after leading the conference in save percentage. Lamparter earned two previous nods as an Academic All-ACC selection in her first two seasons at Clemson. Lamparter is one of three ACC women’s lacrosse players to be honored.
Mahlstedt is a senior from Ormond Beach, Fla. in his second season at Clemson after transferring from Wofford. In 2024, he was an All-ACC Academic team selection and named Academic All-District by CSC. He has made 30 appearances in his two seasons for the Tigers. He becomes the first member of the baseball program to earn ACC postgraduate distinction. Mahlstedt is one of three baseball players in the ACC to earn recognition.
Swanson is a senior from Bluffton, SC, who in 2024 was the winner of the NCAA Elite 90 Award, given to the golfer with the highest GPA at the NCAA National Tournament. Swanson was just the second Tiger to earn the honor, and is a two-time Academic All-ACC selection. He’s a three-year starter with five career top-ten finishes and medalist honors at the 2022 Ka’anapali Classic. Swanson is the lone men’s golf selection in the ACC to earn the recognition in 2025.
Wells, a native of Smyrna, Tenn., is in her second competitive season at Clemson, but her third overall after becoming one of the first members of the Gymnastics program. Wells is already working toward a Master’s degree in Athletic Leadership after earning a communications degree in May 2024. Wells holds the distinction of being the first gymnast to officially compete for Clemson, and was named to the All-ACC team in Vault, Floor and All-Around in 2024. Wells is one of two gymnasts in the ACC to earn recognition.
About the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford-AwardThe 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 and the addition of seven new members. 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 ACC Excellence AwardThe 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.
