UNC Asheville Announces Endowed Scholarship Winners for 2007-08 Year

ASHEVIILLE, N.C. ? The UNC Asheville Athletics Department is proud to announce its' 2007-08 Endowed Scholarships for the academic year.

The Cecil and Lois Hutchins Scholarships went to women's soccer players, Kate Barrow and Sara Marie Holland. Barrow is a fifth-year senior who has been a starter in the back since her freshman year. She was named to the Big South All-Tournament team last year as she helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2006 league championship and trip to the NCAA College Cup. Holland is a two-year starter for the Bulldogs in soccer and also played on the UNC Asheville women's tennis squad last spring.

The Dave Hart Athletics Scholarships went to senior men's tennis player Nicholas Thuell and junior volleyball player Heather Burns. Thuell has been a three-year letterman on the Bulldog tennis squad. He went 5-5 in doubles last year. Burns is the co-captain of this year's volleyball team and played in 24 matches as a sophomore. She had a career-high 13 kills against Duquesne last season.

The Ralph Hooker Scholarship is being awarded to senior baseball player Elliott Arrington. The outfielder/first baseman holds Asheville's career record for hits with 221 and set single-season record for hits (87) and at-bats (249) as a sophomore. He made the 2006 Big South All-Tournament team when he helped lead the Bulldogs to the league championship.

The Samuel J. Millar Scholarship is being awarded to senior men's soccer player David Verga. He is a three-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs and made the Big South All-Academic team for men's soccer the past two years.

The Willie and Carlene Locke Scholarship went to senior track and field performer Omar Ahmad. Ahmad has been a sprinter and a jumper for the Bulldog program the past three years. He also serves as President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

The Arthur Foley/Foley Family Scholarship is being awarded to junior women's basketball player Ana Baker. Baker was the Bulldogs starting point guard last year when Asheville captured the Big South Conference championship. She led the team in assists with 106 and steals at 81.

The Charlie and Sarah Justice Scholarships go to sophomore women's basketball player Kyla Jones and senior men's basketball player Vincent James. Jones was the 2007 Big South Conference Rookie of the Year as she averaged nine points and seven rebounds in Big South Conference games. James was the third on the team in scoring (9.2) and rebounding (3.5).

The Robert Hartman Scholarships went to senior women's basketball player Stacy Shepard and senior men's basketball player K.J. Garland. Shepard made the Big South All-Rookie team in 2005 and earned a spot on the all-tournament team that year. She was second on the Bulldogs in rebounding a year ago at 5.6. Garland has made the Big South All-Tournament team twice in 2004 and 2007. He enters the 2007-08 season sixth on the school's career list for assists with 329.

The Eddie Biedenbach Scholarships go to junior women's basketball player Jessica Monroe and freshman men's basketball player John Williams. Monroe averaged 3.3 points per game last season and was a key role player for the Big South champions. Williams sat out last year but should make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs this season.

The Jim McElhaney Scholarships go to senior women's basketball player Ashton Barton and senior men's basketball player Bryan Smithson. Barton led the Bulldogs in scoring a year ago with a 12.9 average. She has been a starter in the backcourt the past two years for Asheville and is averaging 9.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game during her career. Smithson transferred to UNC Asheville from Middle Tennessee State and enjoyed a great first season for the Bulldogs. He led Asheville in scoring (14.6), steals (60), three-pointers made (43) and free throw percentage (85.1%).