W&M's Claire Williams Chosen As 2018-19 CAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

3/27/2019 11:00:00 AM

Rob Washburn

RICHMOND, Va. (March 27, 2019) – William & Mary senior swimmer Claire Williams has been selected as the 2018-19 Colonial Athletic Association Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The selection was made by the CAA’s Academic Affairs Committee.

Williams has a 3.95 GPA while pursuing a double major in psychology and Hispanic studies. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Psi Chi National Honor Society in psychology and the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. Williams is a four-time recipient of the W&M Provosts’ Award (GPA over 3.5) and is a W&M Monroe Scholar, which is offered to less than 10% of each incoming class. She serves as the swimming representative for W&M’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Williams has been a volunteer since 2016 with Camp Kesem, an annual summer camp for children whose parents are fighting cancer. She has served as a member of the executive board for training and fundraising each of the last two years in addition to counseling at the camp every summer.

Williams placed fifth in the 200 breaststroke (2:17.90) and 10^th in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.56) at the 2019 CAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship, helping the Tribe earn a second-place team finish. She received all-conference accolades in 2017 following a second-place performance in the 200 breast at the CAA Championship and has been a finalist at the conference meet eight times in her career across three events (200 breast, 100 breast and 200 IM). The Tribe has won two CAA team titles during her career and placed second twice. Williams was an NCAA provisional qualifier in the 200 breast in 2017, breaking the W&M school record that had stood since 2002.

In honor of her outstanding accomplishment, Williams will receive a $1,000 stipend along with a crystal award.

Each of the CAA’s 10 institutions had a nominee for the CAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and they will be recognized by the conference with a crystal award.

2018-19 CAA Institutional Female Scholar-Athlete Awards
School                                  Name, Sport
Charleston                          Devon Rachel, Volleyball
Delaware                             Lisa Giezeman, Field Hockey
Drexel                                   Kiera Hennessy, Soccer
Elon                                       Suzanne Zenoni, Tennis
Hofstra                                 Monique Iannella, Soccer
James Madison                 Meredith Willis, Track and Field
UNCW                                  Kirsten Bootes, Soccer
Northeastern                    Zoe Taitel, Track and Field
Towson                                Emily Wilson, Swimming and Diving
William & Mary                 Claire Williams, Swimming and Diving