We have the distinct privilege of honoring our Top Ten Scholar-Athletes. These students are the five male and five female senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point averages. The ten students being honored include undergraduate researchers, postgraduate scholarship winners, and Phi Beta Kappa inductees.
UNC Top 10 Scholar-Athletes
Patrick Crockett along with invited faculty guest Dr. Alain Aguilar, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Patrick Crockett
Patrick is a member of the men’s track and field team and is from Alexandria, Virginia. He is earning a degree in Exercise and Sport Science with the Fitness Professional Concentration and has a minor in Spanish for the Medical Professions. Patrick has completed internships with both Tar Heel Olympic Strength and Conditioning and with the UNC Football Performance Nutrition program. He has been on the Dean’s List every semester and earned his team’s AD Scholar-Athlete award. After graduation, he will use his final year of eligibility and begin his graduate studies at the Gillings School in pursuit of a Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Nutrition and Dietetics. In five years, he will be a registered dietitian in the NFL.
Elizabeth Culton along with invited faculty guest, PhD candidate, Ling Beisecker, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Elizabeth Culton
Elizabeth is from Durham, North Carolina and is a member of the gymnastics team. She is graduating in May with a degree in Psychology. Elizabeth has been awarded the Jim and Pat Thacker ACC Postgraduate Scholarship and has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. After graduation, Elizabeth will attend nursing school. In five years, she will be working as a nurse or on her way to becoming a nurse practitioner.
Sarah Followill along with invited faculty guest Dr. Javier Arce-Nazario, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Sarah Followill
Sarah is from Atlanta, Georgia and is on the women’s fencing team. She is majoring in Environmental Studies with the Sustainability Track. She has minors in Geographic Information Systems and Studio Art. Sarah was the recipient of the Wells Fargo Postgraduate Scholarship, has studied abroad in Copenhagen and received the G. Herbert Stout Award for Innovative Student Papers in GIS. This summer, Sarah will work on a ranch in Wyoming as a chef before starting work in GIS and eventually earning her Masters of Architecture. In five years, she will be a licensed sustainable architect just starting out in a warm and beautiful location.
Jessica Judge along with invited faculty guest Dr. Ron Bergquist, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Jessica Judge
Jessica is on the rowing team and is from Raleigh, North Carolina. She is majoring in Information Science with a minor in Statistics and Analytics. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa this spring, is a member of our 4.0 Club and was her team’s AD Scholar-Athlete. Jessica will be starting as a Data Engineer for Fidelity Investments in June. In five years, she will be a successful cybersecurity professional.
Krista Junkkari along with invited faculty guest Dr. Eric Youngstrom, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Krista Junkkari
Krista is from Elimaki, Finland and is a member of the women’s golf team. She has a double major in Psychology and Exercise and Sport Science. She has been named to the Dean’s List, is a member of our 4.0 Club and was her team’s AD Scholar-Athlete. She will travel home to Finland this summer, return in the fall to go to LPGA Q-School and start in the Annika Development Program at Old Barnwell as 1 of 4 professional female golfers. In five years, she will be further educating herself on the way to become a sports psychologist or mental coach, will be a LPGA tournament winner and will represent Finland in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Alex Morris along with invited faculty guest Dr. Nita Eskew, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Alex Morris
Alex is on the women’s cross country and track and field teams and is originally from Naperville, Illinois. She is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She has been a research assistant at the UNC Dowen Lab, is a member of the 4.0 Club and was one of two ACC Scholar-Athletes of the Year for UNC. After she finishes her degree at Carolina, she will in biology research for a year while discovering what she is most passionate about. In five years, she will be pursuing a career in medicine or science.
Will Palazzolo along with invited faculty guest Greg Hohn, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Will Palazzolo
Will is originally from Rockville Center, New York and is on the men’s fencing team. He is majoring in Business Administration with minors in Statistics & Analytics and Data Science. He is part of the Beta Gamma Sigma Business Honor Society, has completed a global immersion in Singapore and was a summer analyst at JP Morgan. After graduation, he will be working as a securitization banking analyst in New York. In five years he will surrounded by a strong network of friends and family who encourage him to grow and succeed personally and professionally.
Graham Schwartz along with invited faculty guest Dr. Dan McKay, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Graham Schwartz
Graham is from Raleigh, North Carolina and is on the men’s lacrosse team. He is earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Health and Society. Graham has been on the Dean’s List each semester, is a member of our 4.0 Club and has completed research in the Joan Taylor Lab at UNC Medical School. After graduation, Graham will take a gap year and then will start medical school. In five years, he will be finishing up med school and on will be on his way to becoming an oncologist.
Henry Shugart along with invited faculty guest Dr. Boyce Griffith, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
Henry Shugart
Henry is a senior on the men’s fencing team who is originally from Denver, Colorado. He is double-majoring in Statistics & Analytics and Mathematics with a minor in Data Science. Henry is one of UNC’s Scholar-Athlete’s of the Year and has been inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He is graduating in three years and on track to have a perfect 4.0 GPA. After graduation, he will be pursuing a Ph.D in Statistics and Data Science at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. In five years, he will be graduating from UPenn with his Ph.D.
P.J. Zinsner along with invited faculty guest Dr. Shahar Kovalsky, Chancellor Guskiewicz and Provost Clemens.
P.J. Zinsner
P.J. is from Alexandria, Virginia and is a member of the men’s lacrosse team. He is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. P.J. has won the NCAA’s Elite 90 Award, was his team’s AD Scholar-Athlete and completed an internship with a commercial real estate development company. Next year, P.J. will be using his fifth year of eligibility and completing UNC’s Master of Accounting program. In five years, he will be running his own business while making sure he cheers on the Tar Heels.