May 28, 2008

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Virginia Tech's Sara Smith has been named the 2008 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for Women's Swimming and Diving, ACC Commissioner John Swofford announced today.

The ACC Scholar-Athlete Awards were established last September to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their career, as well as a 3.0 during the last two semesters.

Smith, a junior who competes in three events, was a 2008 honorable mention All-American in the 50-yard freestyle and placed 16th at the NCAA meet. She captured the ACC championship in the 50 freestyle with an NCAA "A" standard time and was also ACC champion in the 100-yard freestyle with a "B" standard time. In addition to owning school records in the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle, Smith was an anchor on the ACC champion 200 medley relay team that set a Virginia Tech school record. Smith holds top-100 world rankings in both the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events.

A biology major who minors in chemistry, Smith has been named to the Virginia Tech College of Science Dean's List four semesters. The McGaheysville, Va., native was a 2007 Academic All-American and was named to the Virginia Tech Athletics Honor Roll in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Smith is also a two-time member of the All-ACC Academic Honor Roll

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