University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Jerome M. Ibrahim
Sydney Barker Awarded Montross-Walsh Scholarship
October 1, 2025 | Women's Basketball, Student-Athlete Development
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Embracing the role of a servant leader, North Carolina women's basketball's Sydney Barker has been presented the Montross-Walsh Scholarship as awarded by The Rams Club.
"I'm extremely thankful and honored to be considered for this for award! Although I've never met Eric or Sue, the impact they left on people and the Carolina community is too big to even put into words," said Barker. "I'm thankful they have paved the way for this place that others and I love so dearly."
A Durham native, Barker enters her third season in Chapel Hill after initially joining the program as a walk-on in 2023. During her freshman season, the guard was placed on scholarship by head coach Courtney Banghart. Throughout her first two seasons, Barker has appeared in 21 games off the bench and knocked down four three-pointers.
Off the court, Barker has been a fixture in the community and most recently spent three weeks in Vietnam with Coach for College. Teaming up with student-athletes from universities across the United States and Vietnamese college students, Barker taught academic subjects, basketball and life skills to children throughout the region.
The Montross-Walsh Scholarship is named in honor of Sue Walsh and the late Eric Montross a duo who represent the best of what student-athletes have to offer as members of a Carolina community that promotes academic excellence, sportsmanship, loyalty, hard work and most of all, service.
The Montross-Walsh Scholarship celebrates the contribution of Barker's work as a servant leader, as she has embodied the same qualities in which Eric and Sue are so well-known for.
"Sydney represents absolutely everything this award stands for. She is a leader who serves others first, a competitor who gives her all always, and a true Tar Heel in every sense," said Banghart. "I couldn't be prouder to see her honored with the Montross-Walsh Scholarship, given by two of Carolina's best servant leaders."
The Montross-Walsh Scholarship is funded through by the generous support of Rams Club donors. To learn more about it or other ways to support Carolina student-athletes, please visit ramsclub.com.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.Â
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"I'm extremely thankful and honored to be considered for this for award! Although I've never met Eric or Sue, the impact they left on people and the Carolina community is too big to even put into words," said Barker. "I'm thankful they have paved the way for this place that others and I love so dearly."
A Durham native, Barker enters her third season in Chapel Hill after initially joining the program as a walk-on in 2023. During her freshman season, the guard was placed on scholarship by head coach Courtney Banghart. Throughout her first two seasons, Barker has appeared in 21 games off the bench and knocked down four three-pointers.
Off the court, Barker has been a fixture in the community and most recently spent three weeks in Vietnam with Coach for College. Teaming up with student-athletes from universities across the United States and Vietnamese college students, Barker taught academic subjects, basketball and life skills to children throughout the region.
The Montross-Walsh Scholarship is named in honor of Sue Walsh and the late Eric Montross a duo who represent the best of what student-athletes have to offer as members of a Carolina community that promotes academic excellence, sportsmanship, loyalty, hard work and most of all, service.
The Montross-Walsh Scholarship celebrates the contribution of Barker's work as a servant leader, as she has embodied the same qualities in which Eric and Sue are so well-known for.
"Sydney represents absolutely everything this award stands for. She is a leader who serves others first, a competitor who gives her all always, and a true Tar Heel in every sense," said Banghart. "I couldn't be prouder to see her honored with the Montross-Walsh Scholarship, given by two of Carolina's best servant leaders."
The Montross-Walsh Scholarship is funded through by the generous support of Rams Club donors. To learn more about it or other ways to support Carolina student-athletes, please visit ramsclub.com.
Stay up to date with the latest North Carolina women's basketball news on X at @UNCWBB, Instagram @UNCWBB and Facebook at Carolina Women's Basketball.Â
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Players Mentioned
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