University of North Carolina Athletics
Taylor McDaniels Wins ACC’s Go Teach Tuition Giveaway Grand Prize
December 15, 2020 | Women's Lacrosse
CHAPEL HILL—Taylor McDaniels may have thought her chances of winning anything from the Atlantic Coast Conference ended when she elected to graduate this month and pursue her master's degree. She chose to forego a chance to play her senior season on the women's lacrosse team, which is among the favorites to win an NCAA championship in 2021 after the 2020 campaign was cut short by the covid-19 pandemic with UNC undefeated and ranked #1 in the nation.
McDaniels was wrong, and she got a big surprise from the ACC on Monday night.
During an ACC Network interview last evening, McDaniels was surprised with the news that she had been selected for the ACC's Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway grand prize.
McDaniels, who recently completed her undergraduate degree in human development and family studies and plans to pursue her master's in special education, won the $20,000 grand prize in addition to being one of 15 $2,500 winners conference-wide.
McDaniels spent three seasons as a key contributor for the high-powered Tar Heel attack. She tallied five goals and an assist as a sophomore against Northwestern, then followed up that effort with four goals in the next outting against Virginia. She also scored three goals against Northwestern in what ended up being her final college game in March 2020.
The ACC, in partnership with the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, honor 15 recipient student-athletes who are pursuing careers in education after the conclusion of their playing careers. The ACC's awards committee selected McDaniels as the grand prize winner.
"The Atlantic Coast Conference has great respect for the teaching profession and we are proud to support our student-athletes in their desire to become future educators," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "ACC student-athletes embody teamwork, understand the importance of collaboration and have gained significant life lessons learned from athletics. With these talents and their passion to educate, they will undoubtedly go on to positively impact the lives of their students."
The recipients were recommended by ACC campus representatives based on their aspirations to pursue a career in teaching or coaching.
ACC Go Teach Dr Pepper $2,500 Tuition Giveaway Recipients:
Name, Institution, Sport
John Lamot, Boston College, Football
Josh Jackson, Clemson, Football
Eoin Gronningsater, Duke, Men's Fencing
Elizabeth Mason, Florida State, Softball
Crosby Huckabay, Georgia Tech, Softball
Ainsley Mattingly, Louisville, Women's Rowing
Abby Schwenger, Miami, Women's Rowing
Savannah Bryant, NC State, Volleyball
*Taylor McDaniels, North Carolina, Women's Lacrosse
Maddie Carr, Notre Dame, Women's Lacrosse
Nikki Scherer, Pitt, Women's Track & Field
Lindsey Hendrix, Syracuse, Softball
Ethan Weatherspoon, Virginia, Wrestling
Sara Goodwin, Virginia Tech, Women's Lacrosse
Elijah Shalaway, Wake Forest, Men's Track & Field
*Grand prize recipient
McDaniels was wrong, and she got a big surprise from the ACC on Monday night.
During an ACC Network interview last evening, McDaniels was surprised with the news that she had been selected for the ACC's Go Teach Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway grand prize.
McDaniels, who recently completed her undergraduate degree in human development and family studies and plans to pursue her master's in special education, won the $20,000 grand prize in addition to being one of 15 $2,500 winners conference-wide.
McDaniels spent three seasons as a key contributor for the high-powered Tar Heel attack. She tallied five goals and an assist as a sophomore against Northwestern, then followed up that effort with four goals in the next outting against Virginia. She also scored three goals against Northwestern in what ended up being her final college game in March 2020.
The ACC, in partnership with the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, honor 15 recipient student-athletes who are pursuing careers in education after the conclusion of their playing careers. The ACC's awards committee selected McDaniels as the grand prize winner.
"The Atlantic Coast Conference has great respect for the teaching profession and we are proud to support our student-athletes in their desire to become future educators," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "ACC student-athletes embody teamwork, understand the importance of collaboration and have gained significant life lessons learned from athletics. With these talents and their passion to educate, they will undoubtedly go on to positively impact the lives of their students."
The recipients were recommended by ACC campus representatives based on their aspirations to pursue a career in teaching or coaching.
ACC Go Teach Dr Pepper $2,500 Tuition Giveaway Recipients:
Name, Institution, Sport
John Lamot, Boston College, Football
Josh Jackson, Clemson, Football
Eoin Gronningsater, Duke, Men's Fencing
Elizabeth Mason, Florida State, Softball
Crosby Huckabay, Georgia Tech, Softball
Ainsley Mattingly, Louisville, Women's Rowing
Abby Schwenger, Miami, Women's Rowing
Savannah Bryant, NC State, Volleyball
*Taylor McDaniels, North Carolina, Women's Lacrosse
Maddie Carr, Notre Dame, Women's Lacrosse
Nikki Scherer, Pitt, Women's Track & Field
Lindsey Hendrix, Syracuse, Softball
Ethan Weatherspoon, Virginia, Wrestling
Sara Goodwin, Virginia Tech, Women's Lacrosse
Elijah Shalaway, Wake Forest, Men's Track & Field
*Grand prize recipient
Players Mentioned
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