SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced today, May 8, its eight postgraduate scholarship recipients for the 2011-12 academic year. Elon men’s soccer senior James Carroll and senior women’s cross country and track and field senior #Katelyn O’Dunne# were recipients of Bob McCloskey Insurance Graduate Scholarships. Carroll, O’Dunne and the six other scholarship recipients will be honored for their accomplishments at the Southern Conference Honors Dinner in Asheville, N.C., on Wednesday, May 30.
 
In three and a half years, Carroll earned both a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and a Bachelor of Arts degree in physics while pursuing his passion of artificial intelligence and robotics. Carroll maintained a 3.98 GPA and was recognized as a two-time academic all-district honoree while also being named Capital One Academic All-America third team in 2011. On the field, Carroll was named to the SoCon’s all-freshman team in 2008 and served as team captain in 2010 and 2011. In his senior season, Carroll was a key contributor as the Phoenix won the SoCon tournament for the first time in school history. Carroll intends to continue his studies in pursuit of a PhD in computer science.
 
A religious studies major with a double major in human services, O’Dunne will graduate this spring with a 3.99 GPA. O’Dunne has received numerous academic accolades, including four-time recognition on the President’s List and the 2011 Religious Studies Scholar Award. At the conference level, she is a multiple-time member of the league’s academic all-conference teams as well as the Honor Roll and the Commissioner’s medal. In 2010, she was named to the Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District III second team. In addition to serving as team captain in 2011-12, O’Dunne has spent hundreds of hours volunteering through church and community service programs, and plans to enroll in divinity school upon graduation.
 
2011-12 SoCon Graduate Scholars
Name (Institution)                                        Sport                            Academic Major
Peyton Ford (UNCG)                                     Soccer                          Political Science
Ashley Schnell (UNCG)                                 Cross Country/Track    Music Performance
Caroline Newman (College of Charleston)    Tennis                           Psychology
Jessica Smith (Furman)                                 Soccer                          Chemistry
Sarah Butts (Samford)                                   Golf                               Spanish
Shanna Couch (The Citadel)                          Soccer                          Health, Exercise & Sport Science
Katelyn O’Dunne (Elon)                                  Cross Country/Track    Religious Studies, Human Services
James Carroll (Elon)                                       Soccer                         Computer Science, Physics