Posted: May 05, 2020

2019-20 Hauptfuhrer Scholar-Athlete Award | Caitlin Aguirre and Frances Dingivan

Caitlin Aguirre '20 (left) and Frances Dingivan '20 (right) (Frank Poulin Photography)

Seniors Caitlin Aguirre (Basketball) and Frances Dingivan (Crew) have been named the 2019-20 Wellesley College Athletics Awards co-recipients of the Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer '49 Scholar-Athlete Award. They are the first co-recipients of the honor since 2002.

The Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer '49 Scholar-Athlete Award is given annually to the Wellesley College senior who best combines excellence in scholarship, leadership, sportsmanship and athletic achievement. Each year, the senior selected for this award is also Wellesley's nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer '49, was a strong supporter of Wellesley College, Friends of Athletics and our scholar-athletes. Among her many contributions to the College, Barbara was President of her Class and served as a Trustee and President of the Alumnae Association. (View Past Recipients)

The honor is decided by a selection committee. This year's committee included: Provost Andrew Shennan, Director of Athletics Bethany Ellis, Faculty Athletics Representatives Joy Renjilian-Burgy and Nolan Flynn, Coaching Representative and Head Lacrosse Coach Lauren Schoenberger and Senior Associate Athletic Director Katie Hoppe.

Caitlin Aguirre '20

A biochemistry major from El Paso, Texas, Caitlin Aguirre was the only senior to be a finalist for both the Outstanding Senior Athlete and the Barbara Barnes Hauptfuhrer '49 Scholar-Athlete Awards. Caitlin was the 2016-17 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year before going on to earn three All-NEWMAC honors in her career, including a spot on the 2019-20 1st Team. She finished her career with 1,103 career points scored, becoming the 12th player in program history to hit the 1,000 point mark.

A NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selection in all three years that she was eligible, Caitlin presented at Tanner and held internships in the areas of: dermatology, cosmetic surgery, cardiology, and pediatrics. She has served as an undergraduate researcher in biochemistry at Wellesley College and chemistry at Brown University.

"Caitlin has been a captain for our team for the past two seasons, but a leader on the court for even longer," said Basketball Head Coach Jennifer Kroll. "Her leadership stems all the way back to high school, where she served as Vice President of the National Technical Honor Society to help administrators establish volunteer programming for local elementary school students in the areas of science and music and she has only continued her involvement in volunteer opportunities while at Wellesley."

Caitlin took part in an alternative spring break trip to Macon, Georgia, where she helped build wheelchair ramps for low-income elderly residents. Her service as an athlete mentor has been significant in the lives of first-year student-athletes and she has been a member of Ministrare Council since sophomore year, working to organize volunteer opportunities with women at South Middlesex Correctional Center.

Cailtin took more of a leadership role in her junior and senior years as a Health Partnerships Fellow. In this role, she helped establish a new partnership with Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, developing weekly volunteer opportunities for students interested in healthcare. She has volunteered at her hometown medical center, working with patients and residents, in addition to working on several one-day service events such as Habitat for Humanity, volunteering in the Framingham public schools, and at local food pantries and homeless shelters.

"Her passion for helping those less fortunate than herself is displayed by how she spends her time," said Kroll. "But, Caitlin would be the first to tell you how each of these opportunities has helped her learn and grow. She is someone that understands and values differences. Knowing that differences can be a barrier to building positive relationships with others, Caitlin possesses the emotional intelligence and experience to be able to break down those barriers. This is what has helped her to be such a successful and impactful leader for our team, but more importantly, for our campus. I am so proud of her accomplishments as a student and member of our team."

Frances Dingivan '20

A double major in Spanish and Environmental Studies from Salt Lake City, Utah, Frances joined the Wellesley crew program as a walk-on novice in 2016. She will leave as a first team All-American who made three trips to the NCAA Championships and served as captain of the Blue during her junior and senior seasons. A NEWMAC All-Conference selection in 2019, she helped the Blue to a program-best 2nd place finish last fall at the Head Of The Charles Regatta.

"Fran has been driving toward one goal since her sophomore fall: to win a national title for Wellesley in 2020," said Crew Head Coach Tessa Spillane. "She has been relentless in this pursuit and in the process has inspired many of her classmates and younger teammates to drive toward that goal with her. As one of our captains, she has held herself and her teammates to exceptionally high standards, yet not ever at the expense of our team wellness. Fran has led in a way to inspire and support, compete and care."

An Albright Fellow in 2019, she has earned Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Scholar Athlete, NIRC All Academic team, and NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honors. Frances studied abroad in Valparaiso, Chile in 2018 and has been both a Botanic Gardens and Research Intern at Wellesley. Frances presented on her Research Internship on the United States' contribution to international fishing policy at Wellesley's annual Rhulman Conference. Environmentally conscious, she also interned with the Salt Lake City Department of Sustainability in the Summer of 2017, researching the causes and consequences of air pollution in the City.

While excelling academically, Frances only continued to improve athletically. She made her Wellesley debut in the Novice 8 at the Seven Sisters Championship in 2016 and by the spring she was a member of the Second Varsity boat at the NCAA Championships, a year after Wellesley had won the NCAA National Championship. The next season, she moved to the top Varsity boat and helped Wellesley earn a NEWMAC Championship and NCAA National runner-up honors. Last season she made her third trip to NCAA's, helping the Blue finish in third place.

"Frances has helped me become the coach I am today with her passion, compassion, commitment, perseverance, consistency, work ethic and team spirit," said Crew Head Coach Tessa Spillane." She has been the heart and soul of our varsity eight since her sophomore year. She holds herself to the highest standards in all areas and she is so widely and highly respected on our campus and off."

Wellesley Athletics strives for excellence at the conference, regional, and national levels, while providing opportunities for students to achieve their potential and learn the values of discipline, leadership, critical thinking, and responsibility to oneself and others.