Four Tar Heels Honored With ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recognition – University of North Carolina Athletics
University of North Carolina Athletics
University of North Carolina Athletics
ACC Postgraduate Award
Four Tar Heels Honored With ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Recognition
February 19, 2026 | Men’s Golf, Women’s Gymnastics, Women’s Tennis, Cross Country, Track & Field, Academics
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Awarded by the Atlantic Coast Conference, gymnastics’ Gwen Fink and men’s cross country/track & field’s Trevor Paschall have been named two of the 32 selected as the 2026 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship recipients. In addition, Keaton Vo from men’s golf and Reese Brantmeier from women’s tennis were named to the 2026 ACC Excellence Award List.
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 their graduate education after performing with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport.
The 2025 ACC Champion in beam, Fink has been a fixture for Carolina gymnastics throughout her four seasons in Chapel Hill. A standout on bars, Fink boasts a career-high score of 9.900, which is tied for fourth all-time in program history. This past weekend, Fink’s season-high of a 9.950 assisted Carolina to a win at the Metroplex Challenge in Dallas. A two-time member of the All-ACC Academic Team, Fink is set to graduate this spring with hopes of attending law school next fall.
Paschall has shone on the track and in the classroom throughout his time at Carolina, picking up a multitude of All-ACC Academic honors. Following the last outdoor season, in which he set multiple personal bests, he was named a CSC Academic All-District team. As a junior, he was a member of the indoor DMR relay team, which earned first-team all-conference honors. Graduating this May, Paschall plans to attend optometry school next fall.
One of the greats of Carolina women’s tennis, Brantmeier’s impact will be felt across the program for years to come. The 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Singles National Champion, Brantmeier, is one of two Tar Heels in program history to achieve the feat. The 2025 ACC Player of the Year, Brantmeier, is a multi-time All-America in both singles and doubles. Boasting multiple first-team All-ACC honors, Brantmeier’s academic achievements are remarkable as well. She was awarded the 2025 NCAA Elite 90 Award and the 2025 CSC Academic All-America Team. A member of the 2023 national title team, Brantmeier will exhaust her eligibility this spring and begin her career in professional tennis.
In his two seasons as a Tar Heel, Vo has displayed excellence on the course and in the classroom. Last season, he was named a PING/All-East Region selection as well as an All-America Scholar, Academic All-ACC honoree and a member of the ACC Honor Roll. Last season, he ranked second on the team in scoring average with a career-best 71.86. His best outing in Carolina Blue came at the 2024-25 Amer Ari Invitational, shooting -8 under. Following this season, Vo is set to turn pro.
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.
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.