GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia swimmer Austin Ramirez is one of 16 Atlantic Coast Conference scholar-athletes named as recipients of the 2000 Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Awards. The scholarships are given to those student-athletes who intend to continue their academic work as full-time graduate students. Award winners receive $5,000 to be used toward their graduate education. Students receiving the award performed with distinction both in the classroom and in their respective sports, and demonstrated exemplary conduct in the community.

Fourth-year swimmer Austin Ramirez (Brookfield, Wisc./Brookfield Central H.S.) was selected as the 2000 Men's ACC Championship Most Valuable Swimmer. Ramirez won 2000 ACC titles in three freestyle events, the 200 (1:37.12), 500 (4:18.61), and 1650 (15:00.98), and was a member of Virginia's winning 800 free relay (6:33.95). With wins in the 500 free and 1650 free, he became only the second men's swimmer to win four consecutive ACC titles in two events. Ramirez set the ACC Meet record with his time of 15:00.98 in the 1650 free.

Ramirez is an 11-time ACC Champion and eight-time All-American. He has been a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll pick, and a three-time National Swimming Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Academic selection. He is a two-time captain of the UVa swimming team, and was named the team MVP in 1997-98. Ramirez also serves as the Vice President of the Captain's Council (1999-00), is a member of Golden Key Honor Society, and Tau Beta Pi engineering Honor Society. He was the recipient of Virginia's Ralph Sampson Award in 1998-99 for excellence in athletics, academics, and leadership.