Four Tar Heels Honored With ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recognition
February 26, 2025 | Academics
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Recognized by the Atlantic Coast Conference, football's J.J. Jones and women's golf's Riley Quartermain have been named two of the 35 recipients of the 2025 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Award. Additionally, women's basketball's Alyssa Ustby and men's cross country and track & field's Parker Wolfe earned spots on the 2025 ACC Excellence Award List.Â
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford postgraduate scholarship is awarded to student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree after finishing their undergraduate requirements. Those honored will receive $9,000 towards his or her graduate education after performing with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport.Â
A four-year starter at receiver for the Tar Heels, Jones appeared in 48 games throughout his career while hauling in 11 touchdowns. This past season, Jones totaled a season-best six touchdowns through the air, while averaging 44.8 receiving yards per game. Named a semifinalist for the William V Campbell Trophy, Jones was named to the All-ACC Academic Team in 2023 while studying media and journalism.
President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, Quartermain is a three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll. The Bryn Mawr, Pa., native shot a career-best 2-under par 70 in the final round of the 2023 NCAA Regional in Pullman, Wash.
Cementing herself as a women's basketball great, Ustby has demonstrated excellence on and off the court in her five seasons for Carolina as an honoree for the 2025 ACC Excellence Award List. A two-time team captain, Ustby ranks No. 2 all-time at Carolina with a total of 1,211 career rebounds and holds the lone triple-double in UNC women's basketball history. A three-time All-ACC Academic honoree, Ustby was also named to the Academic All-District Team by College Sports Communicators as a junior. The Rochester, Minn., native earned her undergraduate degree from UNC last May in media and journalism.
The 2024 ACC men's outdoor and indoor track and field runner of the year, Parker Wolfe will leave Carolina as one of its most distinguished runners in school history. Earning All-America honors eight times throughout his career, Wolfe became the first 5,000 meter national champion for UNC at the 2024 NCAA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning the first men's individual national title for a Tar Heel since 2007. The 2024 Outdoor and Indoor USTFCCA Southeast Region Athlete of the Year, Wolfe became the first Tar Heel to be named a Bowerman Award Semifinalist. The 2024 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year, Wolfe joins Ustby on the 2024 ACC Excellence Award List.
About the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford-Award
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Award is named in honor of former ACC commissioners Jim Weaver, Bob James, Gene Corrigan, and John Swofford. The league's first commissioner, James H. Weaver, served the conference from 1954-70 after a stint as the Director of Athletics at Wake Forest. His early leadership and uncompromising integrity are largely responsible for the excellent reputation enjoyed by the ACC today.
Robert C. James, a former Maryland football player, was named commissioner in 1971 and served in that capacity for 16 years. During his tenure, the league continued to grow in stature and became recognized as a national leader in athletics and academics, winning 23 national championships and maintaining standards of excellence in the classroom.
Eugene F. Corrigan assumed his role as the third full-time commissioner on September 1, 1987, and served until August of 1997. During Corrigan's tenure, ACC schools captured 30 NCAA championships and two national football titles.
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John Swofford was named the fourth commissioner of the ACC on July 1, 1997, and served until June 2021. He was instrumental in the launch of the ACC Network and addition of seven new members. ACC programs won 92 national titles in 19 sports while he was commissioner.
Before 1994, the Weaver-James postgraduate scholarships were awarded as separate honors, including the Jim Weaver Award, the Marie James Award, and the Bob James Award.
About the ACC Excellence Award
The ACC Excellence Award recognizes outstanding graduates from our ACC member institutions. The goal of the award is to highlight the students embodying the student-athlete ideal. The brand of the ACC is our strong history of providing world-class education and competition. The awardees are exemplary students, athletes, and contributors to the community and society and serve as an example to their fellow students.
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The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford postgraduate scholarship is awarded to student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree after finishing their undergraduate requirements. Those honored will receive $9,000 towards his or her graduate education after performing with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport.Â
A four-year starter at receiver for the Tar Heels, Jones appeared in 48 games throughout his career while hauling in 11 touchdowns. This past season, Jones totaled a season-best six touchdowns through the air, while averaging 44.8 receiving yards per game. Named a semifinalist for the William V Campbell Trophy, Jones was named to the All-ACC Academic Team in 2023 while studying media and journalism.
President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, Quartermain is a three-time member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll. The Bryn Mawr, Pa., native shot a career-best 2-under par 70 in the final round of the 2023 NCAA Regional in Pullman, Wash.
Cementing herself as a women's basketball great, Ustby has demonstrated excellence on and off the court in her five seasons for Carolina as an honoree for the 2025 ACC Excellence Award List. A two-time team captain, Ustby ranks No. 2 all-time at Carolina with a total of 1,211 career rebounds and holds the lone triple-double in UNC women's basketball history. A three-time All-ACC Academic honoree, Ustby was also named to the Academic All-District Team by College Sports Communicators as a junior. The Rochester, Minn., native earned her undergraduate degree from UNC last May in media and journalism.
The 2024 ACC men's outdoor and indoor track and field runner of the year, Parker Wolfe will leave Carolina as one of its most distinguished runners in school history. Earning All-America honors eight times throughout his career, Wolfe became the first 5,000 meter national champion for UNC at the 2024 NCAA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning the first men's individual national title for a Tar Heel since 2007. The 2024 Outdoor and Indoor USTFCCA Southeast Region Athlete of the Year, Wolfe became the first Tar Heel to be named a Bowerman Award Semifinalist. The 2024 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year, Wolfe joins Ustby on the 2024 ACC Excellence Award List.
About the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford-Award
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Award is named in honor of former ACC commissioners Jim Weaver, Bob James, Gene Corrigan, and John Swofford. The league's first commissioner, James H. Weaver, served the conference from 1954-70 after a stint as the Director of Athletics at Wake Forest. His early leadership and uncompromising integrity are largely responsible for the excellent reputation enjoyed by the ACC today.
Robert C. James, a former Maryland football player, was named commissioner in 1971 and served in that capacity for 16 years. During his tenure, the league continued to grow in stature and became recognized as a national leader in athletics and academics, winning 23 national championships and maintaining standards of excellence in the classroom.
Eugene F. Corrigan assumed his role as the third full-time commissioner on September 1, 1987, and served until August of 1997. During Corrigan's tenure, ACC schools captured 30 NCAA championships and two national football titles.
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John Swofford was named the fourth commissioner of the ACC on July 1, 1997, and served until June 2021. He was instrumental in the launch of the ACC Network and addition of seven new members. ACC programs won 92 national titles in 19 sports while he was commissioner.
Before 1994, the Weaver-James postgraduate scholarships were awarded as separate honors, including the Jim Weaver Award, the Marie James Award, and the Bob James Award.
About the ACC Excellence Award
The ACC Excellence Award recognizes outstanding graduates from our ACC member institutions. The goal of the award is to highlight the students embodying the student-athlete ideal. The brand of the ACC is our strong history of providing world-class education and competition. The awardees are exemplary students, athletes, and contributors to the community and society and serve as an example to their fellow students.
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