University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Three Pitt Student-Athletes Selected to Receive ACC Postgraduate Scholarships
2/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Three University of Pittsburgh student-athletes - football player Dontez Ford, women's swimmer Kinga Cichowska and women's soccer player Taylor Francis - have been selected as 2017 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipients, the conference announced Wednesday.
Ford, Cichowska and Francis will each receive the ACC's prestigious Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Award, as well as a $5,000 scholarship towards their graduate education.
"The entire University of Pittsburgh community takes great pride in Kinga, Dontez and Taylor receiving this prestigious honor," Pitt acting athletic director Randy Juhl said. "Not only have they distinguished themselves in their respective sports but they also have achieved at exceptional levels in the classroom. They are very deserving recipients of the ACC's postgraduate scholarship awards and we congratulate them for their many impressive accomplishments. They represent the very best of what we strive for in Pitt Athletics."
Overall, 54 Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes received either the Weaver-James-Corrigan Award and/or Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships, which are awarded to select student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan Award is named in honor of the late Jim Weaver and Bob James, as well as Gene Corrigan, the first three ACC commissioners.
The 2017 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipients will be honored at the annual Cone Health ACC Postgraduate Luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club and presented by ESPN on April 12 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel Imperial Ballroom in Greensboro.
Following are bios on Pitt's three award-winners: Ford, Cichowska and Francis.
Dontez Ford, Finance and Marketing, Football, McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox
Dontez Ford graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing and is now enrolled in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business. A three-year letterman at receiver, Ford averaged an impressive 18.3 yards per reception for his career. Off the field, he was a four-time University Scholar-Athlete honoree and the recipient of Pitt's 2016 Selfless Spirit Award after he observed an attempted home break-in and caused the intruder to flee. Ford also helped launch the "Bring It Back PGH" campaign, which raised awareness and resources for the Sto-Rox High School baseball and softball programs that had been cut due to budgetary constraints.
Kinga Cichowska, Finance, Swimming, Wroclaw, Poland/Zespol Szkol Sportowych
Kinga Cichowska has been one of Pitt swimming's top student-athletes over the last four years. Originally from Wroclaw, Poland, Cichowska quickly established herself as a standout breaststroker and IM swimmer for the Panthers while also earning numerous recognitions for her extraordinary academic standing. Cichowska's academic success has resulted in three CSCAA Scholar All-America selections, as well as ACC Academic Honor Roll and All-ACC Academic honors. In the pool, she set the Pitt school records in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events while advancing to numerous event finals at the ACC Championships in her collegiate career.
Taylor Francis, Biological Sciences, Women's Soccer, Cary, N.C./Panther Creek
Taylor Francis concluded her collegiate soccer career as one of the most successful goalies in Pitt history. She earned the start in goal for the Panthers for 59 consecutive matches dating back to her freshman season, serving as a solid last line of defense on the field. Her mark ranks second all-time in Pitt history for starts by a goalkeeper. In 2014, she set a program record for saves in a single match, stopping 16 against Florida State. She led Pitt to 11 shutouts over her four seasons, including ACC shutouts over NC State, Louisville and Syracuse. In addition, Francis earned All-ACC Academic Team recognition for the 2016 season and was previously an ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree.
Ford, Cichowska and Francis will each receive the ACC's prestigious Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Award, as well as a $5,000 scholarship towards their graduate education.
"The entire University of Pittsburgh community takes great pride in Kinga, Dontez and Taylor receiving this prestigious honor," Pitt acting athletic director Randy Juhl said. "Not only have they distinguished themselves in their respective sports but they also have achieved at exceptional levels in the classroom. They are very deserving recipients of the ACC's postgraduate scholarship awards and we congratulate them for their many impressive accomplishments. They represent the very best of what we strive for in Pitt Athletics."
Overall, 54 Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes received either the Weaver-James-Corrigan Award and/or Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships, which are awarded to select student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan Award is named in honor of the late Jim Weaver and Bob James, as well as Gene Corrigan, the first three ACC commissioners.
The 2017 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipients will be honored at the annual Cone Health ACC Postgraduate Luncheon hosted by the Nat Greene Kiwanis Club and presented by ESPN on April 12 at the Sheraton Four Seasons Hotel Imperial Ballroom in Greensboro.
Following are bios on Pitt's three award-winners: Ford, Cichowska and Francis.
Dontez Ford, Finance and Marketing, Football, McKees Rocks, Pa./Sto-Rox
Dontez Ford graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing and is now enrolled in Pitt's Katz Graduate School of Business. A three-year letterman at receiver, Ford averaged an impressive 18.3 yards per reception for his career. Off the field, he was a four-time University Scholar-Athlete honoree and the recipient of Pitt's 2016 Selfless Spirit Award after he observed an attempted home break-in and caused the intruder to flee. Ford also helped launch the "Bring It Back PGH" campaign, which raised awareness and resources for the Sto-Rox High School baseball and softball programs that had been cut due to budgetary constraints.
Kinga Cichowska, Finance, Swimming, Wroclaw, Poland/Zespol Szkol Sportowych
Kinga Cichowska has been one of Pitt swimming's top student-athletes over the last four years. Originally from Wroclaw, Poland, Cichowska quickly established herself as a standout breaststroker and IM swimmer for the Panthers while also earning numerous recognitions for her extraordinary academic standing. Cichowska's academic success has resulted in three CSCAA Scholar All-America selections, as well as ACC Academic Honor Roll and All-ACC Academic honors. In the pool, she set the Pitt school records in the 100-yard and 200-yard breaststroke events while advancing to numerous event finals at the ACC Championships in her collegiate career.
Taylor Francis, Biological Sciences, Women's Soccer, Cary, N.C./Panther Creek
Taylor Francis concluded her collegiate soccer career as one of the most successful goalies in Pitt history. She earned the start in goal for the Panthers for 59 consecutive matches dating back to her freshman season, serving as a solid last line of defense on the field. Her mark ranks second all-time in Pitt history for starts by a goalkeeper. In 2014, she set a program record for saves in a single match, stopping 16 against Florida State. She led Pitt to 11 shutouts over her four seasons, including ACC shutouts over NC State, Louisville and Syracuse. In addition, Francis earned All-ACC Academic Team recognition for the 2016 season and was previously an ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree.
Players Mentioned
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