UNC Honors Standout Scholar-Athletes And Leaders

February 6, 2017 | Leadership Academy, Academics, Student-Athlete Development

By: UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The UNC Department of Athletics recently recognized the winners of two prestigious department awards, the Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete Award and the Leader of Distinction Award. Recipients were honored on the Dean E. Smith Center court at halftime of the men's basketball game between UNC and Virginia Tech on Jan. 26.

The AD”s Scholar-Athlete Award is given annually to an upperclass member of each team who has distinguished herself or himself academically. The Leader of Distinction Award is the highest honor bestowed by the Richard A. Baddour Carolina Leadership Academy, recognizing outstanding leadership by student-athletes who have participated in the bCLA program.

Six Tar Heels earned both awards during the 2016-17 school year. They are Hayley Carter (women's tennis), Leslie Cloots (women's golf), Abigail Curry (volleyball), Abby Fisher (women's swimming & diving), Kendra Lynch (softball) and Jack Nyquist (men's diving).

Additional AD's Scholar-Athletes were RJ Alowonle (men's track and field), Alexis Amato (rowing), Ezra Baeli-Wang (men's fencing). Davis Bateman (men's golf), Kristy Bernatchez (field hockey), Joanna Boyles (women's soccer), Kanler Coker (men's basketball), Carly Davis (women's lacrosse), Blake Dodge (women's cross country), Sarah Howard (women's track and field), Amanda Lalezarian (women's fencing), Morgan Lane (gymnastics), Sam Miner (men's cross country), Jason Morgan (baseball), David October (men's soccer), Lucas Popp (men's swimming), Ethan Ramos (wrestling), Chris Ripberger (football), Mark Rizzo (men's lacrosse) and Ronnie Schneider (men's tennis).

Joining Carter, Cloots, Curry, Fisher, Lynch and Nyqust as Leaders of Distinction are Matt Conway (men's swimming & diving), Sheila Doyle (volleyball), Hanna Gardner (women's soccer), Molly Hendrick (women's lacrosse), Darcy McFarlane (women's soccer), Hellen Moffitt (women's swimming & diving), Caylee Waters (women's lacrosse) and Julia Young (field hockey).