Graduating senior and swimming standout Sally Burkley has been named as the 2021-22 University of Mary Washington Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Burkley, one of two winners of the Colgate W. Darden Jr. Award for earning the highest grade-point average (GPA) in the undergraduate program at the University, achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during her academic career. She graduated summa cum laude, the highest academic distinction, is a member of UMW's Honors Program, and has also been inducted in Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.

Burkley, from Loudoun County, Virginia, double majored in political science and communication and digital studies, earning honors in both disciplines.

Athletically, Burkley, a team captain, ranks in the top 10 in program history in the 50 yard breaststroke, and in the top 20 in program history in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke.

Sally was an integral part of our team during her four-year career. She was an All-Conference swimmer her sophomore year, and she helped the team to two Capital Athletic Conference Championship titles, and to the team's first ever Metropolitan Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference Championship in 2022.

"Besides her demanding swimming and academic schedule, Sally was also involved in several on and off campus activities, organizations and clubs. She was a Legislative Affairs intern for the Federal Communications Commission, a Congressional Affairs Intern for the ULTRA Electronics Group, a Research Associate for the UMW Leadership and Media Center, and a Department Aide for the UMW Political Science and International Affairs Department, and she authored and co-authored several pieces during her UMW time including an opinion piece with Dr. Stephen Farnsworth that was published in the Washington Post October, 2021. Sally is one of the most academically driven student-athletes I have ever coached, and she succeeds at everything she endeavors. She is scheduled to begin law school at William and Mary this fall on a partial scholarship and will undoubtedly continue her impressive academic trajectory."

-Justin Anderson,
Head Men's and Women's Swimming Coach