University of North Carolina Athletics
Shealy Honored With Wells Fargo Postgraduate Scholarship
January 30, 2015 | Field Hockey, Academics
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina senior Loren Shealy, a standout academically and athletically at UNC, was named Saturday as the recipient of the 2015 Wells Fargo Postgraduate Scholarship. The award was announced at the Rams Club Endowed Scholarship Lunch, held at the Carolina Club.
A four-year field hockey letterwinner from Charlotte, Shealy is majoring in business administration and will graduate in May.
"I am truly honored to have the opportunity to receive the Wells Fargo post-graduate scholarship,” Shealy said upon learning that she had won the honor. “Without all of the help from my professors, coaches, mentors, family, friends, and teammates both on and off the field while at Carolina I would not be where I am today. Though it is sad to know that this is my last semester as an undergrad at Carolina, I am excited that Wells Fargo will help me pursue an advanced degree after I graduate in May. I am thankful and honored to receive this generous award."
Shealy was not able to be at Saturday's event due to a prior commitment, but UNC field hockey coach Karen Shelton accepted a Wells Fargo trophy on her behalf.
The first UNC student-athlete to be part of the prestigious Robertson Scholars program. Shealy helped the Tar Heels to four consecutive field hockey final fours, two ACC tournament titles and three ACC regular-season titles. She was a three-time recipient (the maximum number of times a student-athlete can win) of the NCAA Elite 89 Award, which honors the participant with the highest GPA at each sport's championship site.
Melissa Herzog, Chapel Hill market president for Wells Fargo and a herself UNC graduate, presented the award to Shelton at the lunch and spoke a bit about the company's decision to honor Shealy. “Loren's focused dedication and relentless drive truly make her deserving of this scholarship, which is an investment in one of our future leaders,” Herzog said. “There is no doubt she'll continue to achieve great things.”
In addition to the scholarship, which is in its third year, Wells Fargo provides financial education to student-athletes as part of its partnership with UNC Athletics.
“I'm honored to accept on Loren's behalf,” Shelton told those assembled. “She has been nothing but a source of pride for our program and this great university. Thank you, Wells Fargo – I know she will put this scholarship to use and continue on. She's an amazing young woman, athletically and academically.”
Saturday's luncheon also included words from former Carolina football player Dre Bly, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL is now an endowed scholarship donor. “The donors here today who give back to the university gave me the opportunity to fulfill my childhood dream,” he told the crowd. “It was a no-brainer to me to give back and help these student-athletes.”
Four current student-athletes – Jonathan Campbell, Brooke Elby, Paige Neuenfeldt and Trent Thornton – took part in a panel discussion, answering questions from emcee Rick Steinbacher, Senior Associate Athletic Director and a former football student-athlete at UNC. Thornton, junior pitcher on the baseball team who is majoring in business, earned “extra credit” and plenty of laughs from the audience for being the only one of the four willing to imitate his head coach. His coach, Mike Fox, was among the crowd of nearly 400, which included donors, student-athletes, coaches and staff members, all applauding outstanding examples of Tar Heel success.
