BLACKSBURG - Senior catcher Kelsey Hoffmanand former lacrosse player Jamie Webster are two of seven ACC student-athletes selected to participate in the 2008 ACC Futures Internship Program.

Hoffman, a communication major who will graduate this spring, will begin a 10-month assistantship with Sun Sports/FSN in Orlando, Fla., in late summer working with the marketing department.

Webster, from Rocky Point, N.Y., completed her eligibility last season. The psychology major will work with Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla.

SunSports is one of five entities that Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes have the opportunity to intern with. Each ACC member institution may nominate a maximum of three candidates according to specific criteria and instructions provided by the ACC Futures Internship Program.

This year, 26 nominees began the process with only 16 making the first cut. From there only seven were placed in one of the 10-month internships including Hoffman as one of two with Sun Sports/FSN, one with the Orange Bowl Committee, one with the ACC Office, Webster as one of two with Disney's Wide World of Sports also in Orlando, Fla., and one with Sun Sports/FSN South & Sports South in Atlanta, Ga.

Additionally, goalkeeper Ashley Owens of the women's soccer team has been chosen to represent Virginia Tech at the NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference this summer.

The Conference provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills. The conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities.

The NCAA has increased the number of opportunities for student-athletes to participate in the conference to 700 beginning with the 2008 event taking place May 25-29 in Orlando, Fla., at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Owens is a rising senior from Greensboro, N.C. The human nutrition, foods and exercise major started 17 games this past season, making 70 saves and posting four shutouts.