Julian Valentin

Classroom

Valentin, an English major, currently has a 3.388 cumulative grade point average. Despite entering school with an SAT score 300 points lower than the Wake Forest average, he has excelled in the classroom; taking challenging courses and making the Dean’s List five of his first six semesters. He is a three-time member of the ACC Honor Roll and was named to the 2005 All Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Soccer Academic Team. He was also selected as a member of the 2006 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District III team. He will graduate in December 2007, after only seven semesters at Wake Forest. To finish off his Senior campaign Valetin was named to the 2007 ESPN the Magazine Academic First Team All District III.

Character

Valentin’s teammates voted him 2007 team co-captain. Wake Forest Head Coach Jay Vidovich described Valentin as a warrior who leads by example.

Community

Since his junior year, Valentin has volunteered weekly at a local elementary school. He frequently participates in Athletes’ Care Team activities. He also has spent time at a local homeless shelter, mentoring Hispanic students, volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House and raising funds for Hurricane Katrina relief. As a junior, he was the co-chair of the Campus and Community Involvement Committee for the Student-Athlete Advisory Council. In this role he helped plan volunteer involvement for student-athletes in the Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem communities. This year, he is the Vice President for the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and participates in the SAAC strategic planning and leadership.

Competition

Valentin started every game in 2006, the year the Demon Deacons took the regular season ACC Co-Championship, achieved a No. 1 ranking and earned a berth to the NCAA tournament that ended at the College Cup (national semifinals). As a defender, he registered four goals, including three game-winners, during the season. The Demon Deacons also set a new season shutout record (13), largely due to Valentin’s back-line leadership and talent. He earned ACC, Top Drawer Soccer and Soccer America Player of the Week honors for his back-to-back game-winning goals vs. Connecticut and North Carolina. He was named an All-American by Soccer America (First Team) and NSCAA (Second Team). He was also one of three NCAA starters in the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team, which defeated global powerhouse Brazil in its run to the quarterfinals of the 2007 World Championships.