April 28, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest senior student-athletes Caitlin Chrisman, Ben Hunter, and Julian Valentin were honored by the Atlantic Coast Conference with postgraduate scholarships for their outstanding performances in athletic competition as well as the classroom throughout their collegiate careers.
The Weaver-James-Corrigan scholarships are given to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate-level degree following graduation. Each recipient will receive $5,000 to use towards his or her graduate education. Student-athletes receiving the award have performed with distinction in both the classroom and in their respective sports, while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community.
Julian Valentin, of Lancaster, Pa., was a starting defender and co-captain on Wake Forest's 2007 National Championship men's soccer team. The center back was a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and a semifinalist for the 2007 MAC Hermann Trophy as well as an NSCAA All-American (second team) in 2006. In December, Valentin was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III team. Valentin took an extremely active role in Wake's community service projects, serving as the vice president of Wake Forest's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and co-chairing the Campus and Community Involvement Committee. He was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll for three consecutive years and has been named to the Dean's List for six semesters. Valentin graduated in December with a degree in English, earning Cum Laude status. Valentin was drafted by the MLS's L.A. Galaxy in January.
Caitlin Chrisman (Carbondale, Ill.) has been one of Wake Forest's top performers in both cross country and track during her career as a Demon Deacon, serving as cross country team captain both her junior and senior seasons. At the 2007 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Chrisman finished seventh in the 10,000-meter run and 14th in the 5,000-meter run. As a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, Chrisman has made the ACC Academic Honor Roll for three years and made the Dean's List five times. Chrisman was also a member of the All-ACC Academic Track and Field team in 2006 and was named to the 2006 USTFCCCA Women's All-Academic Track and Field Team. In May, Chrisman will graduate with a degree in Business.
Ben Hunter, a 6-4 RHP out of Cincinnati, Ohio, was one of the top starters in the ACC in 2007, posting a 5-1 record through eight conference starts. Hunter earned wins for the Deacons in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments and was named a second-team All-American by Rivals.com and a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball. The Deacon standout is also a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, a premedical honor society, and Beta Beta Beta, a biological honor society. In 2007, Hunter was honored by the conference for his stellar performance on the field and in the classroom with a spot on the All-ACC Academic Baseball Team. This season Hunter is 2-5 with a 5.45 ERA in ten starts and 13 appearances. In May, Hunter will graduate with a degree in Biology.
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