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Four Blue Devils Receive ACC Postgraduate Scholarship Awards
2/18/2026 4:00:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse, Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke standouts Charles Johnson, Sydney Smith, Aidan Maguire and Andie Smith were honored Wednesday as the ACC announced its 2026 awards.
Johnson and Sydney Smith were two of 33 student-athletes to receive Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship awards, while Maguire and Andie Smith were two of 33 student-athletes named to the ACC Excellence Award list.
"Each year, our ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipients redefine what it means to be a student-athlete," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "This year's 63 honorees exemplify the relentless drive, leadership and integrity that distinguish the ACC both academically and athletically. Their ability to pursue excellence at the highest levels of competition while thriving in the classroom speaks volumes about their character and commitment. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and remain fully committed to supporting their continued success beyond their collegiate careers."
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree after completing their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $9,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community and were chosen by a vote of the league's FARs at the ACC Winter Meetings.
A consensus preseason All-America pick, Johnson is the anchor to Duke men's lacrosse close defense. After a breakout junior season in which he garnered USILA All-America second team honors, the senior captain is back leading the seventh-ranked Blue Devils. Johnson, after registering 32 caused turnovers to tie for second in Duke single-season history, has picked up right where he left off and leads Duke with five caused turnovers and 11 ground balls after three games.
With Johnson leading the charge, the Blue Devils are holding teams to seven goals per game and to just 23 percent shooting. Duke has yet to give up more than eight goals in a game this season and recently held Vermont to just six tallies.
Playing in just 26 career games, the Riverside, Connecticut native has 38 career caused turnovers and is only 13 shy of tying for 10th in Duke career history. An elite student in the classroom as well, Johnson will graduate in May with a degree in political science.
Sydney Smith has been a steady presence on the women's lacrosse back line throughout her career at Duke. She has appeared in 50 games, earning 25 starts, while collecting 25 ground balls and forcing 29 caused turnovers.
Smith, a product of Mt. Airy, Maryland, helped lead the Blue Devils to their 17th NCAA Championship quarterfinal appearance a season ago with a 14-6 overall and 6-3 ACC ledger. It marked the highest win totals in both categories since 2022.
Off the field, Smith is highly involved in organizations such as SAAC and UBA. Smith is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree. In 2024, Smith earned the ACC Top Six for Service Award, and last season she was tabbed to the 2025 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. She will graduate in May, while majoring in psychology along with obtaining minors in environmental sciences and policy along with African & African American Studies.
The Excellence Award was presented to those student-athletes who plan to pursue professional careers in their respective sports or chosen fields of study.
The 2025 National Midfielder of the Year and consensus First-Team All-American, Maguire is a menace as a short stick defensive midfielder, collecting a Duke men's lacrosse defensive middie record 26 caused turnovers and picking up 57 ground balls his junior season. He was the only collegiate player invited to the USA Lacrosse Men's Senior National Team training camp.
Maguire, who is from Hingham, Massachusetts, hasn't missed a beat this season, helping to anchor one of the nation's most elite defensive units. He has two caused turnovers and three ground balls this season and is just three shy of tying for eighth on Duke's career list for takeaways. His 53 career caused turnovers are the most by a defensive midfielder in program history.
Playing in 59 career games, Maguire also is a threat on offense, totaling 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points in his career. He is majoring in political science and will graduate in May.
A 2025 Honorable Mention All-American, Andie Smith has been a fixture in the women's golf lineup since arriving on campus four years ago. She has appeared in 35 tournaments, totaled one victory, eight top-10 finishes and 19 top-20 placements. Smith broke through as a junior and won her first collegiate individual tournament by carding rounds of 68, 66 and 69 to win the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational with a 7-under, 203.
So far this season, Smith has led Duke with a 71.50 stroke average with three top-10 finishes. She helped lead the Blue Devils to a team victory at the Windy City Collegiate Classic as she placed tied for sixth. Smith currently leads Duke with 11 rounds of even or under par.
Smith, a native of Hobe Sound, Florida, is a three-time Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar, All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Honor Roll honoree. She graduated from Duke in only three years with a degree in economics along with a markets and management certificate. Smith is currently attending Duke's Fuqua Business School in 2025-26 in the MMS program.
The ACC has selected postgraduate scholarship recipients annually since 1971. Over that time, the league has provided nearly $5.8 million to over 1,000 ACC student-athletes.
Each member institution may nominate a maximum of two candidates to be eligible for the postgraduate scholarship awards. Institutions are recommended to nominate a student-athlete from one men's and one women's sport.
Student-athletes nominated for the ACC Excellence Award are also eligible for the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship.
#GoDuke
Johnson and Sydney Smith were two of 33 student-athletes to receive Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship awards, while Maguire and Andie Smith were two of 33 student-athletes named to the ACC Excellence Award list.
"Each year, our ACC Postgraduate Scholarship recipients redefine what it means to be a student-athlete," said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. "This year's 63 honorees exemplify the relentless drive, leadership and integrity that distinguish the ACC both academically and athletically. Their ability to pursue excellence at the highest levels of competition while thriving in the classroom speaks volumes about their character and commitment. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and remain fully committed to supporting their continued success beyond their collegiate careers."
The Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford postgraduate scholarships are awarded to selected student-athletes who intend to pursue a graduate degree after completing their undergraduate requirements. Each recipient will receive $9,000 toward his or her graduate education. Those honored have performed with distinction in both the classroom and their respective sport while demonstrating exemplary conduct in the community and were chosen by a vote of the league's FARs at the ACC Winter Meetings.
A consensus preseason All-America pick, Johnson is the anchor to Duke men's lacrosse close defense. After a breakout junior season in which he garnered USILA All-America second team honors, the senior captain is back leading the seventh-ranked Blue Devils. Johnson, after registering 32 caused turnovers to tie for second in Duke single-season history, has picked up right where he left off and leads Duke with five caused turnovers and 11 ground balls after three games.
With Johnson leading the charge, the Blue Devils are holding teams to seven goals per game and to just 23 percent shooting. Duke has yet to give up more than eight goals in a game this season and recently held Vermont to just six tallies.
Playing in just 26 career games, the Riverside, Connecticut native has 38 career caused turnovers and is only 13 shy of tying for 10th in Duke career history. An elite student in the classroom as well, Johnson will graduate in May with a degree in political science.
Sydney Smith has been a steady presence on the women's lacrosse back line throughout her career at Duke. She has appeared in 50 games, earning 25 starts, while collecting 25 ground balls and forcing 29 caused turnovers.
Smith, a product of Mt. Airy, Maryland, helped lead the Blue Devils to their 17th NCAA Championship quarterfinal appearance a season ago with a 14-6 overall and 6-3 ACC ledger. It marked the highest win totals in both categories since 2022.
Off the field, Smith is highly involved in organizations such as SAAC and UBA. Smith is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll honoree. In 2024, Smith earned the ACC Top Six for Service Award, and last season she was tabbed to the 2025 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. She will graduate in May, while majoring in psychology along with obtaining minors in environmental sciences and policy along with African & African American Studies.
The Excellence Award was presented to those student-athletes who plan to pursue professional careers in their respective sports or chosen fields of study.
The 2025 National Midfielder of the Year and consensus First-Team All-American, Maguire is a menace as a short stick defensive midfielder, collecting a Duke men's lacrosse defensive middie record 26 caused turnovers and picking up 57 ground balls his junior season. He was the only collegiate player invited to the USA Lacrosse Men's Senior National Team training camp.
Maguire, who is from Hingham, Massachusetts, hasn't missed a beat this season, helping to anchor one of the nation's most elite defensive units. He has two caused turnovers and three ground balls this season and is just three shy of tying for eighth on Duke's career list for takeaways. His 53 career caused turnovers are the most by a defensive midfielder in program history.
Playing in 59 career games, Maguire also is a threat on offense, totaling 15 goals and 10 assists for 25 points in his career. He is majoring in political science and will graduate in May.
A 2025 Honorable Mention All-American, Andie Smith has been a fixture in the women's golf lineup since arriving on campus four years ago. She has appeared in 35 tournaments, totaled one victory, eight top-10 finishes and 19 top-20 placements. Smith broke through as a junior and won her first collegiate individual tournament by carding rounds of 68, 66 and 69 to win the Ruth's Chris Tar Heel Invitational with a 7-under, 203.
So far this season, Smith has led Duke with a 71.50 stroke average with three top-10 finishes. She helped lead the Blue Devils to a team victory at the Windy City Collegiate Classic as she placed tied for sixth. Smith currently leads Duke with 11 rounds of even or under par.
Smith, a native of Hobe Sound, Florida, is a three-time Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar, All-ACC Academic Team and ACC Honor Roll honoree. She graduated from Duke in only three years with a degree in economics along with a markets and management certificate. Smith is currently attending Duke's Fuqua Business School in 2025-26 in the MMS program.
The ACC has selected postgraduate scholarship recipients annually since 1971. Over that time, the league has provided nearly $5.8 million to over 1,000 ACC student-athletes.
Each member institution may nominate a maximum of two candidates to be eligible for the postgraduate scholarship awards. Institutions are recommended to nominate a student-athlete from one men's and one women's sport.
Student-athletes nominated for the ACC Excellence Award are also eligible for the ACC Postgraduate Scholarship.
#GoDuke
Players Mentioned
Andie Smith, Duke | Interview | CGN
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