CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Winthrop softball player Tessa Thomas (Pickering, Ontario) and Gardner-Webb baseball player Jonathan Ahearn (Charlotte, N.C.) have been awarded the annual Bob McCloskey Insurance Big South Conference Graduate Fellowships, it was announced today by Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander.  Bob McCloskey Insurance, a Big South Corporate Partner, will award $2,000 each to Thomas and Ahearn for their respective graduate studies on Thursday evening, May 28 as part of the Conference’s Spring Awards Dinner at Winthrop University’s McBryde Hall in Rock Hill, S.C.

The Big South Conference Graduate Fellowship Program was established by the League in the fall of 2005 as a means of recognizing the academic excellence of Big South Conference student-athletes who intend to pursue postgraduate studies upon graduation from a Big South Conference institution.

“I want to congratulate Ms. Thomas and Mr. Ahearn for their outstanding undergraduate careers and selection for this prestigious honor,” said Kallander.  “The entire Big South family is proud of their accomplishments and we wish them the best in their graduate studies.  We also are gratified by the support of McCloskey Insurance for this worthy award.”

“It is with great pleasure that we present these scholarships to these two fine, deserving student-athletes, and wish to extend our heartfelt wishes to their continued success in their future endeavors,” added Rob McCloskey.  “We also are very proud and excited to be a Big South Corporate Partner, and look forward to a long-term relationship.”

Thomas is a four-year letterwinner and has helped the Lady Eagles win two regular-season softball championships and two Tournament titles during her career.  She was the 2006 Big South Freshman of the Year after leading the team and finishing fifth in the Conference with a .361 batting average.  She set freshman records for hits, runs, RBI and tied the freshman mark for home runs en route to First-Team All-Big South accolades.  Thomas started all 58 games that season, had a personal- and team-best 14-game hit streak, and committed just two errors in the field for a .987 fielding percentage.  As a sophomore in 2007, Thomas was voted First-Team All-Conference and was named to the All-Tournament squad.  She set the Winthrop single-season record in hits (90), runs (63) and at-bats (136) while starting all 68 games.  Thomas helped the Lady Eagles become the first Big South softball team to reach the Finals of the NCAA Regionals.  She repeated as a First-Team All-Conference and All-Tournament selection her junior year of 2008.  She led the Big South with 48 runs scored and finished 34th nationally in runs per game.  She also ranked third in the League with 62 hits.  Thomas is enjoying a fine senior season in 2009, as she ranks seventh in the League in batting average (.358), tied for third with nine home runs, tied for second in triples (4), fourth in hits (58), third in RBI (35) and third in runs (40) entering this week’s Conference Championship.

A 3.849 student in art history, Thomas is a three-time member of the Big South Presidential Honor Roll, has been named to Winthrop’s President’s List four times and to the Dean’s List twice.  She also was voted to the 2007 CoSIDA Academic All-District III Team as a Second-Team member, as well as receiving NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors in 2006 and the Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports-Scholar Award in 2007 and 2008.  In addition, Thomas has been involved in Winthrop’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council, received the Medal of Honor Ceremony in the Arts at Winthrop University in 2006 and 2007, served as Vice President of the Art History Association, and has volunteered during her four years at Rock Hill area elementary schools to promote literacy, health and physical fitness.  Thomas has applied to Queens University to pursue a master’s degree in art conservation.

Ahearn is a four-year member of the Bulldogs baseball club.  He is enjoying a career season this year, having started all 43 games and hitting a personal-best .329.  He also is 18-of-23 in stolen bases to rank fifth in the Big South.  As a junior in 2008, Ahearn appeared in 33 games and started 15 in centerfield.  He batted .254 with a double, triple and 7 RBI in 67 at-bats.  He played 56 games in 2007 with 36 starts in center, and hit .259 with three doubles, one triple, three home runs and 14 driven in.  Ahearn posted a .356 on-base percentage and stole home twice during his sophomore season.  He also hit .345 against Atlantic Sun Conference foes.  In his freshman year of 2006, Ahearn overcame an offseason injury to start 16 of his 24 games in the outfield, including six of the season’s final seven games.  He had half of his hits in his final five contests.  Ahearn has played in 150 career games with 110 starts, and is a career .283 hitter with four home runs, 43 RBI, 69 runs scored and 48-of-59 in stolen bases.  He is fifth all-time in Gardner-Webb history in stolen bases and needs four to move into fourth place on that list.

A 3.9074 student in health/wellness, Ahearn graduated Summa Cum Laude in December and is currently enrolled in Gardner-Webb’s graduate school of business.  He was a three-time Atlantic Sun Academic All-Conference honoree, attended the University of South Carolina on an academic scholarship before accepting an academic transfer scholarship to Gardner-Webb, and has been named to the Dean’s List every semester.  Ahearn was nominated by the Health/Wellness Club to take the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) exam, is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Cleveland County American Red Cross, is a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society, and has volunteered with various organizations and charities during his collegiate career, including the Cleveland Physical Therapy Associates, American Red Cross, and local elementary schools.  Ahearn is applying to attend physical therapy school at the Medical University of South Carolina, the University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina.

Nominations for the Graduate Fellowship are made by the Faculty Athletics Representative or the Chief Academic Officer at a Big South member institution, and are limited to one male and one female at each school.  To qualify for the Big South Conference Graduate Fellowship, candidates must have the following requirements:

•   An overall undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 3.500 or better based on a maximum 4.000, or the equivalent in other recognized grading systems;
•   Have competed in intercollegiate athletics as a member of a varsity team at a Big South Conference member institution;
•   Be a graduating senior or be enrolled in graduate study at a Big South Conference institution while completing the last year of eligibility;
•   Have applied for admission into a graduate degree program at a properly accredited, non-profit educational institution or into a post baccalaureate professional degree program at a professionally accredited law school, medical school or the equivalent, without restriction as to the national site of the institution;
•   Have evidenced superior character and leadership;
•   Have demonstrated that participation in athletics and community service has been a positive influence on the nominee’s personal and intellectual development.  Relative success in athletics is important but not of overriding significance;
•   Enroll in a graduate degree program the fall semester or term subsequent to being awarded the fellowship.