Tar Heels Celebrate At All-Sports Banquet

April 19, 2010 | General

By: UNC Athletic Communications

April 19, 2010

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Student-athletes on North Carolina's 28 varsity teams joined with coaches, administrators and staff at the Dean E. Smith Center on Monday evening to celebrate the year's successes at the annual All-Sports Banquet. Although the crowd saluted conference and NCAA championship teams, the evening's focus was on achievements out of uniform.

"As it always is, this was a great night" said Dick Baddour, North Carolina's Director of Athletics. "Our student-athletes make us so proud with their victories, but even more so with what they do in the classroom and within our community. Tonight was an opportunity to celebrate those parts of the student-athlete experience."

Kara Wright (gymnastics) and Michael Jarvis (men's lacrosse) were announced as recipients of the Mildred McCaskill Award, which is presented each year to one male and one female senior student-athlete who demonstrate excellence in athletics, scholarship and community service. Wright is a journalism major from Virginia Beach, Va. Jarvis is a business major from Richmond, Va.

Wright joined Bill Dworsky (men's soccer) in being honored with the ACC Senior Scholar Award, which goes to one male and one female from each Atlantic Coast Conference school who demonstrate excellence in academics and athletics. Dworsky is an economics and comparative literature double major from Huntsville, Ala.

Jessica Breland (women's basketball) received the John Lotz Award, given to the student-athlete who best exemplifies the spirit of the late John Lotz, who served as UNC's Assistant Athletic Director of Campus and Community Relations and also was an assistant basketball coach for the Tar Heels. The award goes to a student-athlete who succeeds under adverse circumstances, overcoming difficulties while maintaining a positive attitude. Breland, a senior from Kelford, N.C., was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in May and sat out the 2009-10 season while undergoing treatment.

Six student-athletes were honored with the ACC Top Six for Service Award, which is presented to individuals at each conference school who have demonstrated dedication and commitment to community service and outreach programs. Tar Heels honored were Caroline Boneparth (women's soccer), Heather Brooks (volleyball), Marcus Ginyard (men's basketball), Vinny Pryor (men's swimming & diving), JoAnne Rogers (rowing) and Kennedy Tinsley (football).

oneparth is a senior from Lawrence, N.Y., who is working toward a double major in economics and journalism. Brooks, a senior from East Lansing, Mich., is majoring in communication studies. Ginyard is a senior from Alexandria, Va., and is working toward a major in communication studies. Pryor, a junior from Jaffrey, N.H., is majoring in communication studies. Rogers, a senior from Silver Spring, Md., is working toward a double major in English and political science. Tinsley, a senior exercise and sport science major, is from Greensboro, N.C.

Ginyard and Tinsley were recipients of the award for the second year in a row.

The program also included recognition for the recipients of several honors that had been previously announced.

Nine Tar Heels were among the UNC students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honorary society this spring. Caroline Boneparth (women's soccer), Will Bondurant (swimming team manager), Marion Boulicault (women's fencing), Ali Hawkins (women's soccer), Ashley Miller (women's swimming), Meredith Newton (women's lacrosse), Chip Peterson (men's swimming), Brittany Walsh (rowing) and Kaitlin Williamson (women's fencing) earned the honor in recognition of their academic achievement.

An outstanding member of each varsity team was honored with the Athletic Director's Scholar-Athlete Award. Honorees for 2009-10 are: Colin Bates (Baseball), Marcus Ginyard (Men's Basketball), Trinity Bursey (Women's Basketball), Adam Cunningham (Men's Cross Country), Lauren Holesh (Women's Cross Country), Caleb Pardue (Men's Fencing), Marion Boulicault (Women's Fencing), Riley Foster (Field Hockey), Lowell Dyer (Football), Chase MacFarland (Men's Golf), Kate Thomas (Women's Golf), Kara Wright (Gymnastics), Sean Jackson (Men's Lacrosse), Kristen Taylor (Women's Lacrosse), Andi Drabot (Rowing), Bill Dworsky (Men's Soccer), Caroline Boneparth (Women's Soccer), Stephanie Murad (Softball), Chip Peterson (Men's Swimming and Diving), Megan Steeves (Women's Swimming and Diving), Andrew Crone (Men's Tennis), Katrina Tsang (Women's Tennis), Mateo Sossah (Men's Track & Field), Vanneisha Ivy (Women's Track and Field), Heather Brooks (Volleyball), and Jeremy Shaw (Wrestling).