Four Demon Deacons Awarded ACC Postgraduate Accolades

Four Demon Deacons Awarded ACC Postgraduate Accolades

2/18/2026 3:57:00 PM | Field Hockey, General, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Women's Volleyball

Amelia Frey (field hockey) and Paige Crawford (volleyball) earned the prestigious ACC postgraduate scholarship honor from the conference office while DK Suresh Ekambaram (men’s tennis) and Cooper Flax (men’s soccer) were named ACC Excellence Award recipients.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Atlantic Coast Conference revealed its 2026 Postgraduate Scholarship recipients and Wake Forest saw three of its programs represented on the yearly list. Amelia Frey (field hockey) and Paige Crawford (Volleyball) attained honors from the conference. Additionally, the league announced its 2026 ACC Excellence Award (formerly called Honorary Scholarship nominees) list where 2025 NCAA National Champion DK Suresh Ekambaram (men's tennis) and 2024 ACC Champion Cooper Flax (men's soccer) were honored.

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 after completing their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $9,000 toward his or her graduate education, an increase from $6,000 in previous years following a vote of the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs).

Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community and were chosen by a vote of the league's FARs at the ACC Winter Meetings.

"Each year, our ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipients redefine what it means to be a student-athlete," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "This year's 63 honorees exemplify the relentless drive, leadership and integrity that distinguish the ACC both academically and athletically. Their ability to pursue excellence at the highest levels of competition while thriving in the classroom speaks volumes about their character and commitment. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and remain fully committed to supporting their continued success beyond their collegiate careers."

"On behalf of Wake Forest Athletics and Wake Forest University I want to congratulate these four tremendous student-athletes for these outstanding honors," said. Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Peter Brubaker. "Amelia, Paige, DK and Cooper embody the best of being a student-athlete and I speak for everyone in saying we are extremely proud of their accomplishments both academically and athletically. We look forward to following their future successes as they move ahead in their respective careers."

"Amelia, Paige, DK and Cooper represent the very best of Wake Forest and the ACC – extraordinary competitors who lead with integrity, commitment and purpose in everything they do. Their achievements in the classroom, in competition and in our community reflect the values of Pro Humanitate and the standard our student-athletes strive to uphold every day. We are incredibly proud of them, grateful for the coaches, faculty and staff who support their journeys, and excited to see the impact they will continue to make in their postgraduate pursuits."

To be eligible for ACC Postgraduate Scholarships, nominees must have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically with an overall minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or its equivalent. The student-athlete must have completed at least seven semesters and complete their baccalaureate degree, at an ACC institution, prior to receiving the postgraduate scholarship, and performed with distinction as a member of a varsity team specifically represented by local, conference, regional and/or national athletic recognition. The nominees also must have conducted themselves, both on and off the field, in a manner that has brought credit to themselves, their institution, intercollegiate athletics, and the ideals and objectives of higher education.

The ACC has selected postgraduate scholarship recipients annually since 1971. Over that time, the league has provided nearly $4.7 million to more than 1,000 ACC student-athletes.

Each member institution may nominate a maximum of two candidates to be eligible for the postgraduate scholarship awards. Institutions are recommended to nominate a student-athlete from one men's and one women's sport.

Student-athletes nominated for the ACC Excellence Award are also eligible for the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship.

This year's class of postgraduate scholarship recipients will be highlighted in a one-hour show on ACC Network that will air in May.

Amelia Frey | Louisville, Ky. | Health & Exercise Science
A four-year standout, Frey earned Dean's List honors every semester and amassed a perfect 4.0 GPA, becoming a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection, two-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree, three-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member and two-time NFHCA Scholar of Distinction. Off the field, she was recognized with the Ron and Linda Wellman Lifetime Teammate Award in 2024 after being named the team's Unsung Hero and Weight Room MVP in 2023. A key contributor throughout her career, she helped lead the Demon Deacons to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2025, finishing second on the team in points in 2023—highlighted by a hat trick against Colgate—and later recording goals in three consecutive matches during the 2025 season. As a senior captain, she guided Wake Forest to the 2025 ACC regular season championship, the program's first since 2006, fueling a remarkable 15-game winning streak—the third longest in school history—while the team defeated six ranked opponents and was unbeaten at Kentner Stadium.

Paige Crawford | Wimberley, Texas | Communication
Competing as a standout outside hitter for the Demon Deacons, Crawford ranks fifth all-time in program history in both career kills (1,400) and career service aces (119). She is also tied with Hailey Brooke Weiss for fifth in sets played (444) while making 119 appearances across four seasons. Crawford is the first Wake Forest player in the current rally scoring era to lead the team in kills for four consecutive seasons, totaling 362 for the 2025 campaign and averaging 3.23 per set. She was named to the 2022 ACC All-Freshman Team. In the classroom, Crawford is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.

DK Sureh Ekambaram | Chennai, India | Communication
Entering his senior season, Suresh has already etched his name into the Wake Forest record books after leading the team to one of the most dominant seasons in collegiate tennis history. He served at the No. 2 spot during NCAA and ITA national championship runs and finished second on the team with 20 singles wins in the spring with a team-high 11 of them coming against ranked opponents. Suresh finished the year ranked No. 6-nationally in singles and was ranked in doubles with five different partners and was as high as No. 8 with Charlie Robertson. Individually, he reached the semifinals of the 2024 NCAA Singles Championships. His stellar campaign on, and off, the court saw him rack up numerous awards and accolades, including ACC Scholar Athlete of the Year, ITA All-American in singles and doubles, First Team All-ACC in singles and doubles, CSC Academic All-American, ACC All-Academic and CSC Academic All-District. Suresh also shined in his sophomore season in 2024, ending the year with All-ACC and All-American honors in doubles alongside Holden Koons, as the pair ended the year ranked as the No. 2 duo in the country.

Cooper Flax | Dix Hills, N.Y. | Communication
A four-year starter for the Demon Deacons, the standout midfielder recently finished his senior year with nine goals and seven assists, totaling a team-high 25 points in 17 starts. The senior converted four-for-four on penalty kicks, notched two game-winning goals and recorded at least one goal contribution in nine separate matches, including seven of the last nine. The two-time All-American totaled 21 career goals, putting him in a tie for 18th on Wake Forest's all-time scoring list with Geraint Davies (1986-89). He also moved into 20th all-time in career points with 59. Flax helped Wake Forest to its fourth ACC Championship in 2024, leading the team with nine goals on the season and earning a spot on the All-Tournament team. The NYCFC academy product signed a homegrown contract to join the MLS club in December.

About the Weaver-James-Corrigan Award
The Weaver-James-Corrigan Award is named in honor of the late Jim Weaver, Bob James, and Gene Corrigan, the first three ACC commissioners. 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.

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.