Four graduating California Golden Bears were among a group of 59 student-athletes from across the Atlantic Coast Conference who were selected to receive various postgraduate scholarships to pursue professional career opportunities in their sport or field of study.
 
Aidan Li of men's gymnastics and Antonia Galland of women's rowing were among the 35 who were awarded the 2025 Weaver-James-Corrigan-Swofford Postgraduate Scholarship Award while Ari Manrique of women's soccer and Jamie Arnold of men's rowing received the 2025 ACC Excellence Award.
 
Li, who majored in mechanical engineering, returned to the Bears for his fifth and final season in 2025. As a senior, he posted four of Cal's top-10 pommel horse scores in the previous scoring era. Following an all-conference nod for his second-place finish on horse at the MPSF Championships, he broke the program record in the NCAA Championships Qualifier and tied for sixth place in the final, earning Cal's first All-America honor since 2021 and the first on pommel horse since 2014. Li is the NCAA's fifth-ranked gymnast in the event and claimed at least a share of first place on horse in each of Cal's first three meets this year, also earning CGA and MPSF Specialist of the Week after leading the nation in Week 4. Most recently, Li won the pommel horse title at this year's Elite Canada meet.
 
Galland, who graduated with a degree in conservation and resource studies. was a standout for the women's rowing team who earned 2024 All-Pac-12 Team honors and was a Second-Team All-American her last two seasons and a three-time Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Scholar-Athlete. She was a member of Cal's first varsity eight beginning with her sophomore year and also competed on the international stage for her home country of Germany. Galland competed in the women's eight for Germany, winning the bronze medal at the 2024 U23 World Rowing Championships and silver at the 2023 U23 World Rowing Championships.
 
Manrique began making an impact on the Cal women's soccer team from the moment she stepped on campus as a member of the nation's top recruiting class in 2021. A four-year student-athlete, Manrique totaled 53 matches played with 35 stars and donned the captain's armband in several matches. Although she had to medically retire during her senior season, she tallied eight career goals and four assists. As a junior in 2023, Manrique led the team with five goals. Manrique led by example both on and off the field as a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic team selection. She also was the Bears' Team Impact liaison, which matches children facing serious illness and disability with college athletics programs.
 
Arnold, who earned his degree in society and environment and is now enrolled in Cal's entrepreneurship certificate program, was a member of the Bears' second varsity eight last season and is a two-time Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) Scholar-Athlete and was named to the 2024 Pac-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll. His international experience includes helping his home country of Australia capture the bronze medal in the men's eight at the 2022 U23 World Rowing Championships and competing at the 2023 U23 World Rowing Championships and the 2022 World Rowing Cup III.
 
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 approved by the conference's Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) at the ACC Winter Meetings.
 
The ACC Excellence Award recognizes outstanding graduates from conference member institutions. The goal of the award is to highlight the students embodying the student-athlete ideal. The honorees are exemplary students, athletes, and contributors to the community and society and serve as an example to their fellow students.