Four Panthers Collect ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Awards
2/24/2023 10:00:00 AM | General, Softball, Women's Basketball, Volleyball, Wrestling
PITTSBURGH – Four student-athletes from the University of Pittsburgh have been selected as 2023 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Award recipients, the league announced Friday. The ACC honored 53 student athletes across the conference with the award.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford and Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $6,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
This year's list includes three student-athletes who will also receive the Thacker Award and nine student-athletes who plan to pursue professional careers in their chosen sports and were named honorary recipients.
Chiamaka Nwokolo of volleyball, Emy Hayford of women's basketball and Yvonne Whaley of softball each received the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford scholarship. Nino Bonaccorsi, from wrestling, was selected as an honorary recipient.
This year's class of postgraduate scholarship recipients will be highlighted in a one-hour show on ACC Network that will air in May.
CHIAMAKA NWOKOLO, PITT, VOLLEYBALL, LEGAL STUDIES
Nwokolo ended her All-American career with two ACC Championships, two Final Four and three Elite 8 appearances. She was a vital member of the rise of Pitt Volleyball, playing in 108 matches and delivering 472 kills on .380 hitting while also adding 282 total blocks. Her .380 hitting is the highest career hitting percentage of any Panther in program history over a four-year span. She was awarded Honorable Mention All-American status in 2020 after posting 1.73 kills/set on .411 hitting and .88 blocks/set and leading Pitt past the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. She finished her career with one of the most efficient NCAA Tournament performances in program history, making 41 kills on .473 hitting in Pitt's Final Four run of 2022 earning herself a spot on the Madison All-Region Team for her performances in the Panthers victories over Florida and defending national champions, Wisconsin, at the UW Field House. Nwokolo was a two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and was named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators in 2022.
EMY HAYFORD, PITT, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, LAW, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND SOCIETY
Hayford is the epitome of what it means to be a student-athlete, leading on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. She has been a mainstay in the backcourt for the Panthers ever since stepping foot on campus from the Netherlands in 2019. The gifted athlete has appeared in 106 games in the blue and gold while earning 45 starts at point guard across her storied playing career. A vocal leader and role model to her teammates, Hayford has posted career totals of 394 points, 234 rebounds and 175 assists across her career on the court. Off the court, Hayford has earned ACC Honor Roll honors in each season during her Pitt career. A valued member of Pitt's Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Hayford volunteers her time at multiple different locations outside of Pitt including with the local group, Gwen's Girls. She has become a mentor with the Gwen's Girls organization and organized a Black History Month game at Pitt which featured the group and their stories on February 16. She will graduate with a B.S. in Law, Criminal Justice and Society in the spring of 2023.
YVONNE WHALEY, PITT, SOFTBALL, PSYCHOLOGY
Whaley made an immediate impact on the Pitt Softball program after joining the team last season as the starting shortstop. The Houston, Texas product returns to the diamond for her final year of eligibility after earning All-ACC third team recognition in 2022 and leading the Panthers in batting average (.344), hits (45), runs (21) and stolen bases (8) in the leadoff spot. The transfer Finished 14th in conference play batting average with a .358 mark while totaling 24 hits, 12 runs, two doubles, two homers, four RBI, three stolen bases, a .419 on-base percentage and a .478 slugging percentage in conference action. Whaley has already left her mark on the program as she became the first player since Giorgiana Zeremenko (2018) to hit above .340 in a single season.
NINO BONACCORSI – WRESTLING – ENGLISH WRITING
Hailing from nearby Bethel Park, Pa., Nino Bonaccorsi followed in the footsteps of his brother, Nick, in attending the University of Pittsburgh as a wrestling student-athlete back in 2017. Since then, Nino has established himself as an all-time great in the history of the program, winning more than 100 career matches and multiple ACC titles. Currently undefeated in his super senior season and ranked No. 1 in the 197-pound weight class, Bonaccorsi's career already includes status as a four-time NCAA Championships qualifier, two-time ACC champion, 2021 NCAA Finalist and All-American, 2020 NWCA All-American and 2021 USA U23 Freestyle National Champion and World Team member – with more to come. Nino is also an academic all-star, earning his bachelor's degree in English Writing and now studying corporate and community relations. He has also earned multiple selections to the All-ACC Academic Team and been named an NWCA Scholar All-American. A multiple-time team captain, Bonaccorsi's leadership helped Pitt win a share of the 2022-23 ACC dual title, the program's first conference championship since 2014. He enters his final postseason with hopes of standing on top of the podium at NCAAs as Pitt's first national champion since 2008.
PITT'S ALL-TIME ACC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
The following student-athletes will be honored as 2023 ACC Postgraduate Scholars:
2023 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Award Recipients
Name, Institution, Sport, Major
Cayla Barnes, Boston College, Women's Ice Hockey, Communication
Lilly Mathieu, Boston College, Women's Sailing, International Studies
Hal Hershfelt, Clemson, Women's Soccer, Psychology
Mckenna Slavik, Clemson, Volleyball, Sports Communication
Finn Hossfeld, Duke, Men's Fencing, Public Policy
Michaela Reinhart, Duke, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Interdepartmental: Chemistry and Public Policy
Ruthie Jones, Duke, Women's Soccer, Psychology
Kaley Mudge, Florida State, Softball, Exercise Physiology
Madelyne Anderson, Florida State, Beach Volleyball, Finance
Nick Mason, Florida State, Men's Swimming and Diving, Psychology
Dylan Leonard, Georgia Tech, Football, Business Administration Concentration Marketing
Emma Kauf, Georgia Tech, Softball, Biology
McKenzie Campbell, Georgia Tech, Women's Swimming & Diving, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Concentration - Analytics & Data Science
Joshua Brockman, NC State, Men's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Business Administration
Kelsey Chmiel, NC State, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Animal Science
Nyls Korstanje, NC State, Men's Swimming and Diving, Sustainable Materials and Technology
Chelsea Domond, Syracuse, Women's Soccer, Psychology
Luisa Gathmann, Syracuse, Rowing, Human Development and Family Science
Noah Singlemann, Syracuse, Men's Soccer, Economics
Aliyah Welter, Louisville, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Sport Administration/Health and Human Performance
Amaya Tillman, Louisville, Volleyball, Sport Administration/ Counseling and Personnel Services
Katie Schneider, Louisville, Field Hockey, Communications/Early Elementary Education
Destiny Harden, Miami, Women's Basketball, Public Administration and Criminology
Anton Down-Jenkins, North Carolina, Men's Swimming and Diving, Advertising and Public Relations
Destiny Middleton, North Carolina, Softball, Human Development and Family Sciences
James Bertrand, Notre Dame, Football, Marketing
Madison Ahern, Notre Dame, Women's Lacrosse, Finance
Chiamaka Nwokolo, Pitt, Volleyball, Legal Studies
Emy Hayford, Pitt, Women's Basketball, Law, Criminal Justice, and Society
Yvonne Whaley, Pitt, Softball, Psychology
Ella Nelson, Virginia, Women's Swimming & Diving, Kinesiology
Jayna Francis, Virginia, Volleyball, Chemistry-Biochemistry
Quentin Matsui, Virginia, Men's Lacrosse, Commerce
Hannah Ballowe, Virginia Tech, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Professional and Technical Writing, English; Pre-Law Concentration (Undergrad)/ English (Current)
Morgan Overaitis, Virginia Tech, Softball, Public Health
Sarah Shackelford, Virginia Tech, Women's Swimming & Diving, Biology; Concentration: Biomedical
Adam Joseph Cecere, Wake Forest, Baseball, Communication
Madeline Faith Rehm, Wake Forest, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Health and Exercise Science
Nathalie Lisa Friedman, Wake Forest, Field Hockey, Business and Enterprise Management
Jim & Pat Thacker Scholarship Recipient
Name, Institution, Sport, Major
Katherine Mitchell, Boston College, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Management (Finance and Business Analytics Concentration)
Elizabeth Culton, North Carolina, Gymnastics, Psychology
Cason Wilburn, Notre Dame, Men's Swimming and Diving, Environmental Engineering
Honorary Scholarship Nominees
Name, Institution, Sport, Major
KJ Henry, Clemson, Football, Sports Communication/Athletic Leadership
Victoria Allen, Florida State, Women's Tennis, Sport Management
Connor Howe, Georgia Tech, Men's Golf, Business Administration – Finance Concentration
Alexandra Hays, NC State, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Forestry and Environmental Resources
Meaghan Tyrrell, Syracuse, Women's Lacrosse, Public Relations
Daevenia Achong, Miami, Women's Tennis, Finance
Lou Hedley, Miami, Football, Liberal Arts and Sports Administration
Armando Bacot, North Carolina, Men's Basketball, Exercise Sports Science
Cormac Ryan, Notre Dame, Men's Basketball, Strategy
Nino Bonaccorsi, Pitt, Wrestling, English Writing
Rachel Silvia Kuehn, Wake Forest, Women's Golf, Business and Enterprise Management
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford and Jim and Pat Thacker postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree following completion of their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $6,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
This year's list includes three student-athletes who will also receive the Thacker Award and nine student-athletes who plan to pursue professional careers in their chosen sports and were named honorary recipients.
Chiamaka Nwokolo of volleyball, Emy Hayford of women's basketball and Yvonne Whaley of softball each received the Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford scholarship. Nino Bonaccorsi, from wrestling, was selected as an honorary recipient.
This year's class of postgraduate scholarship recipients will be highlighted in a one-hour show on ACC Network that will air in May.
CHIAMAKA NWOKOLO, PITT, VOLLEYBALL, LEGAL STUDIES
Nwokolo ended her All-American career with two ACC Championships, two Final Four and three Elite 8 appearances. She was a vital member of the rise of Pitt Volleyball, playing in 108 matches and delivering 472 kills on .380 hitting while also adding 282 total blocks. Her .380 hitting is the highest career hitting percentage of any Panther in program history over a four-year span. She was awarded Honorable Mention All-American status in 2020 after posting 1.73 kills/set on .411 hitting and .88 blocks/set and leading Pitt past the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. She finished her career with one of the most efficient NCAA Tournament performances in program history, making 41 kills on .473 hitting in Pitt's Final Four run of 2022 earning herself a spot on the Madison All-Region Team for her performances in the Panthers victories over Florida and defending national champions, Wisconsin, at the UW Field House. Nwokolo was a two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and was named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators in 2022.
EMY HAYFORD, PITT, WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, LAW, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND SOCIETY
Hayford is the epitome of what it means to be a student-athlete, leading on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. She has been a mainstay in the backcourt for the Panthers ever since stepping foot on campus from the Netherlands in 2019. The gifted athlete has appeared in 106 games in the blue and gold while earning 45 starts at point guard across her storied playing career. A vocal leader and role model to her teammates, Hayford has posted career totals of 394 points, 234 rebounds and 175 assists across her career on the court. Off the court, Hayford has earned ACC Honor Roll honors in each season during her Pitt career. A valued member of Pitt's Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Hayford volunteers her time at multiple different locations outside of Pitt including with the local group, Gwen's Girls. She has become a mentor with the Gwen's Girls organization and organized a Black History Month game at Pitt which featured the group and their stories on February 16. She will graduate with a B.S. in Law, Criminal Justice and Society in the spring of 2023.
YVONNE WHALEY, PITT, SOFTBALL, PSYCHOLOGY
Whaley made an immediate impact on the Pitt Softball program after joining the team last season as the starting shortstop. The Houston, Texas product returns to the diamond for her final year of eligibility after earning All-ACC third team recognition in 2022 and leading the Panthers in batting average (.344), hits (45), runs (21) and stolen bases (8) in the leadoff spot. The transfer Finished 14th in conference play batting average with a .358 mark while totaling 24 hits, 12 runs, two doubles, two homers, four RBI, three stolen bases, a .419 on-base percentage and a .478 slugging percentage in conference action. Whaley has already left her mark on the program as she became the first player since Giorgiana Zeremenko (2018) to hit above .340 in a single season.
NINO BONACCORSI – WRESTLING – ENGLISH WRITING
Hailing from nearby Bethel Park, Pa., Nino Bonaccorsi followed in the footsteps of his brother, Nick, in attending the University of Pittsburgh as a wrestling student-athlete back in 2017. Since then, Nino has established himself as an all-time great in the history of the program, winning more than 100 career matches and multiple ACC titles. Currently undefeated in his super senior season and ranked No. 1 in the 197-pound weight class, Bonaccorsi's career already includes status as a four-time NCAA Championships qualifier, two-time ACC champion, 2021 NCAA Finalist and All-American, 2020 NWCA All-American and 2021 USA U23 Freestyle National Champion and World Team member – with more to come. Nino is also an academic all-star, earning his bachelor's degree in English Writing and now studying corporate and community relations. He has also earned multiple selections to the All-ACC Academic Team and been named an NWCA Scholar All-American. A multiple-time team captain, Bonaccorsi's leadership helped Pitt win a share of the 2022-23 ACC dual title, the program's first conference championship since 2014. He enters his final postseason with hopes of standing on top of the podium at NCAAs as Pitt's first national champion since 2008.
PITT'S ALL-TIME ACC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES
- 2023: Chiamaka Nwokolo (Volleyball), Emy Hayford (Women's Basketball), Yvonne Whaley (Softball), Nino Bonaccorsi (Wrestling)
- 2022: Cal Adomitis (Football), Olivia Miller (Gymnastics), Jackson Walti (Men's Soccer), Felix Wolter (Men's Track & Field)
- 2021: Kirk Christodoulou (Football), Kayla Lund (Volleyball), Chinaza Ndee (Volleyball)
- 2020: Stephanie Williams (Volleyball), Taylor Middleton (Track & Field)
- 2019: Kamalani Akeo (Volleyball), Olivia Gray (Softball) Brian Lovasik (Men's Swimming & Diving)
- 2018: Andin Fosam (Women's Track & Field), Meme Sharp (Women's Swimming & Diving), Ryan Winslow (Football)
- 2017: Kinga Cichowska (Women's Swimming & Diving), Dontez Ford (Football), Taylor Francis (Women's Soccer)
- 2016: Lindsay Offutt (Gymnastics), Amanda Orchard (Volleyball), Artie Rowell (Football)
- 2015: Brianna Kiesel (Women's Basketball), Tyler Wilps (Wrestling), Cameron Wright (Men's Basketball)
- 2014: Ashley Corum (Women's Track & Field), Jocelyn Lu (Women's Tennis), Katie O'Rourke (Gymnastics)
The following student-athletes will be honored as 2023 ACC Postgraduate Scholars:
2023 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Award Recipients
Name, Institution, Sport, Major
Cayla Barnes, Boston College, Women's Ice Hockey, Communication
Lilly Mathieu, Boston College, Women's Sailing, International Studies
Hal Hershfelt, Clemson, Women's Soccer, Psychology
Mckenna Slavik, Clemson, Volleyball, Sports Communication
Finn Hossfeld, Duke, Men's Fencing, Public Policy
Michaela Reinhart, Duke, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Interdepartmental: Chemistry and Public Policy
Ruthie Jones, Duke, Women's Soccer, Psychology
Kaley Mudge, Florida State, Softball, Exercise Physiology
Madelyne Anderson, Florida State, Beach Volleyball, Finance
Nick Mason, Florida State, Men's Swimming and Diving, Psychology
Dylan Leonard, Georgia Tech, Football, Business Administration Concentration Marketing
Emma Kauf, Georgia Tech, Softball, Biology
McKenzie Campbell, Georgia Tech, Women's Swimming & Diving, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Concentration - Analytics & Data Science
Joshua Brockman, NC State, Men's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Business Administration
Kelsey Chmiel, NC State, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Animal Science
Nyls Korstanje, NC State, Men's Swimming and Diving, Sustainable Materials and Technology
Chelsea Domond, Syracuse, Women's Soccer, Psychology
Luisa Gathmann, Syracuse, Rowing, Human Development and Family Science
Noah Singlemann, Syracuse, Men's Soccer, Economics
Aliyah Welter, Louisville, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Sport Administration/Health and Human Performance
Amaya Tillman, Louisville, Volleyball, Sport Administration/ Counseling and Personnel Services
Katie Schneider, Louisville, Field Hockey, Communications/Early Elementary Education
Destiny Harden, Miami, Women's Basketball, Public Administration and Criminology
Anton Down-Jenkins, North Carolina, Men's Swimming and Diving, Advertising and Public Relations
Destiny Middleton, North Carolina, Softball, Human Development and Family Sciences
James Bertrand, Notre Dame, Football, Marketing
Madison Ahern, Notre Dame, Women's Lacrosse, Finance
Chiamaka Nwokolo, Pitt, Volleyball, Legal Studies
Emy Hayford, Pitt, Women's Basketball, Law, Criminal Justice, and Society
Yvonne Whaley, Pitt, Softball, Psychology
Ella Nelson, Virginia, Women's Swimming & Diving, Kinesiology
Jayna Francis, Virginia, Volleyball, Chemistry-Biochemistry
Quentin Matsui, Virginia, Men's Lacrosse, Commerce
Hannah Ballowe, Virginia Tech, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Professional and Technical Writing, English; Pre-Law Concentration (Undergrad)/ English (Current)
Morgan Overaitis, Virginia Tech, Softball, Public Health
Sarah Shackelford, Virginia Tech, Women's Swimming & Diving, Biology; Concentration: Biomedical
Adam Joseph Cecere, Wake Forest, Baseball, Communication
Madeline Faith Rehm, Wake Forest, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Health and Exercise Science
Nathalie Lisa Friedman, Wake Forest, Field Hockey, Business and Enterprise Management
Jim & Pat Thacker Scholarship Recipient
Name, Institution, Sport, Major
Katherine Mitchell, Boston College, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Management (Finance and Business Analytics Concentration)
Elizabeth Culton, North Carolina, Gymnastics, Psychology
Cason Wilburn, Notre Dame, Men's Swimming and Diving, Environmental Engineering
Honorary Scholarship Nominees
Name, Institution, Sport, Major
KJ Henry, Clemson, Football, Sports Communication/Athletic Leadership
Victoria Allen, Florida State, Women's Tennis, Sport Management
Connor Howe, Georgia Tech, Men's Golf, Business Administration – Finance Concentration
Alexandra Hays, NC State, Women's Cross Country/ Track & Field, Forestry and Environmental Resources
Meaghan Tyrrell, Syracuse, Women's Lacrosse, Public Relations
Daevenia Achong, Miami, Women's Tennis, Finance
Lou Hedley, Miami, Football, Liberal Arts and Sports Administration
Armando Bacot, North Carolina, Men's Basketball, Exercise Sports Science
Cormac Ryan, Notre Dame, Men's Basketball, Strategy
Nino Bonaccorsi, Pitt, Wrestling, English Writing
Rachel Silvia Kuehn, Wake Forest, Women's Golf, Business and Enterprise Management
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Players Mentioned
LS
/ Football
/ Wrestling
P
/ Football
G
/ Women's Basketball
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
MB
/ Volleyball
M
/ Men's Soccer
INF
/ Softball
/ Track & Field
2025 Hall of Fame Class | Jack Anderson
Saturday, September 27
Pitt Football | Allen Greene Media Availability | 8.7.25
Thursday, August 07
Allen Greene at Pitt Night at PNC Park
Monday, June 23
Allen Greene Interview with Dan Zangrilli | Pitt Athletics
Saturday, June 21