ALIQUIPPA, Pa. (May 13) – Recently graduated Saint Vincent College student-athletes
Carolina Walters (Latrobe, Pa./Homeschool) and
Shawn McSwiggen (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) were honored at the annual Presidents' Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Banquet, held at The Fez in Alipuippa, Pa.
Each of the 12 full-time PAC institutions and its one football affiliate member were represented at the event by some of their most distinguished student-athletes. Established in 2014, the Scholar-Athlete Banquet honors the conference's student-athletes for their excellence in the classroom, athletic achievement and community service efforts.
Walters was a two-sport athlete at Saint Vincent competing in both women's tennis and women's lacrosse. Carolina's achievements in tennis allowed her to become the top player in the program's history. She is the program's all-time wins leader, while earning All-Conference honors in all four years of her Bearcats career, and was named the PAC Women's Tennis Player of the Year once in her four years as well. On the lacrosse field, she compiled over 140 career points, while also earning All-Conference honors throughout her career as well.
Off the tennis court and lacrosse field, Walters was a standout in the classroom as well, achieving a 4.0 GPA in every semester throughout her collegiate career. She earned CSC Academic All-District honors multiple times throughout her Saint Vincent career. Recently, she earned the Saint Vincent College Athletic Department's Kristen Zawacki Award, which honors an excellent student athlete who demonstrated service to the Saint Vincent College community. Walters was an active member of the Saint Vincent community during her four years as well, being a part of campus ministry and many other clubs on campus. Carolina was a member of the PAC Academic Honor Roll in every season during her career as well.
Walters graduated from Saint Vincent with a degree in philosophy. She plans to continuing working in publishing as an editor.
McSwiggen quickly solidified himself as one of the top players in the history of the Saint Vincent men's volleyball program. Over the course of his four-year career, McSwiggen earned multiple All-Conference honors, while also being named the AMCC Player of the Year the season before the Bearcats joined the PAC. He was a member of multiple playoff teams at Saint Vincent as well, including helping lead the Bearcats to the number two seed in this year's PAC Playoffs. He owns the program's all-time record in both kills and service aces as well. This past season he achieved 1,000 kills for his career, becoming the first player in program history to do so.
Off the volleyball court, McSwiggen was a standout in the classroom. He was a member of the PAC Academic Honor Roll in each of his seasons on the men's volleyball team. He also earned CSC Academic All-District over his four year career as well. Like Walters, McSwiggen also earned the Kristen Zawacki Award. Shawn graduated from Saint Vincent last weekend with a degree in middle level education and has enrolled in the Saint Vincent College master's program for school counseling. He has future plans to become a teacher.
