Brianna Pinto & Martina Ballen Win ACC UNITE Awards

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Tar Heels Martina Ballen and Brianna Pinto both won ACC UNITE Awards in honor of their work toward social and racial justice causes, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced on Wednesday.

As part of the ACC's 2024 Fall Unity Week from October 11-20, the conference has announced the recipients of the 2024 ACC UNITE Award, which was created to honor individuals affiliated with the league's member institutions who have made an impact in the areas of racial and social justice. The UNITE Award is an initiative of the ACC's UNITE Committee (formerly named CORE - Champions of Racial Equity) and was developed and approved by its 18 member institutions.

The UNITE Award is presented annually to individuals who:

Best exemplify ACC UNITE's mission to promote and encourage racial equity and social justice through education, partnerships, engagement and advocacy.
Have helped create meaningful, lasting change by improving systems, organizational structures, policies, practices and attitudes.
Have been a pioneer and/or helped pave the way for minorities either at the institution or in the community.

Each school selects two recipients based on the above criteria and determines how best to celebrate their respective selections at campus events throughout the academic year.

"We are incredibly honored to recognize the fourth annual UNITE Award recipients and are thrilled to celebrate these deserving individuals," said ACC commissioner Jim Phillips. "These amazing representatives from our 18 member schools have made significant impacts throughout their careers and continue to be dedicated to making a positive impact in the crucial areas of racial and social justice, as well as diversity, equity and inclusion."

Martina Ballen is a senior associate athletic director and the chief financial officer for UNC Athletics, a position she has held since 2011. Ballen is the first African-American woman to become a senior administrator in the Department of Athletics at Carolina. She has been instrumental in the creation of the Tar Heel Trailblazer award, an ongoing program to celebrate those who have shaped Carolina athletics and continue to set an incredible example for all of the students, staff and the entire Carolina community.

She graduated from UNC in 1980 with a degree in business administration and went on to earn her master's degree from Wake Forest in 1984. The Southern Pines native has worked in the Carolina athletic department since 1987.

Pinto (Women's Soccer; 2018-20), a current midfielder for the North Carolina Courage, led UNC to three NCAA College Cup appearances, helped win the 2019 ACC Championship title and led her team to the ACC regular season title in all three years of her career as a Tar Heel. In 2021, she was the No. 3 overall pick in the NWSL Draft by Sky Blue FC.

At UNC, Pinto scored 31 goals with 19 assists in 73 games while receiving numerous accolades. In each of her three seasons, she earned All-ACC first-team honors and made the All-ACC Academic team. In her freshman season, she made the All-ACC Freshman Team, United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Second Team, and was tabbed a TopDrawer Soccer First Team Freshman All-America.

In her sophomore year, she was named a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American, TopDrawer Soccer Third-Team All-America, MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist, earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team and was named the U.S Soccer Young Female Player of the Year.

During her junior season, Pinto was recognized as a United Soccer Coaches First-Team All-American, TopDrawer Soccer First-Team All-America, named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Region First Team, All-NCAA College Cup Team and was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and the Honda Award.

Pinto was a member of UNC's Undergraduate Real Estate Club and UNC's Minority Business Student Alliance. In 2020, she was named the Tar Heel Scholar-Athlete and earned CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team recognition. She has been inducted into UNC's Order of the Golden Fleece.

Pinto runs the Pinto Futbol Foundation, which invests in grassroots programs designed to grow the game of soccer in underserved communities domestically and around the club while working to minimize structural and financial barriers to participation. She serves the community through program donations, camps, events and scholarship funding with her foundation and is committed to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in sports. Additionally, Pinto currently serves on the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council and formally served on the FORevHER Tar Heels advisory board.

She was also the U.S. Youth Representative for the 2026 United Bid Committee at the 68th FIFA Congress in Moscow, Russia, and was nominated for the 2023 Nationwide NWSL Community Impact Award. Pinto continues to give back to her sport while being an effective advocate for women and minorities.

2024 UNITE Award Recipients
Boston College: Blake Bolden & Justin Simmons 
California: Marshawn Lynch & Charmin Smith
Clemson: Mary Kennerty & Marion Reeves 
Duke: Troy Austin & Michelle Staggers
Florida State: Tiffani Brown & Terance Mann
Georgia Tech: Grover Hinsdale & Dr. Shaday Word-Daniels
Louisville: Angel McCoughtry & Judge Derwin L. Webb 
Miami: Dr. Marvin P. Dawkins & Shirelle Jackson
North Carolina: Martina Ballen & Brianna Pinto 
NC State: Chester Grant & Ronnie Laughlin
Notre Dame: Dorene Dominguez & Art Velasquez Jr.
Pitt: Leah Friedman & Darelle Porter 
SMU: Pastor Richie Butler & Charlene Edwards
Stanford: Nya Harrison 
Syracuse: Greg Allen & Sydnie Moore
Virginia:  Elijah Gaines & Dr. Carla Williams
Virginia Tech: Aaron Rouse & Aisha Sheppard
Wake Forest: Dianne Dailey & Bill Hayes 

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