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Softball - Infielder Erica Lafrades was named Shaw’s Female StudentAthlete of the Year, and Cortnee Kelly was named to the All-CIAA Softball Second Team, having led the team in home runs, hits and Cortnee Kelly runs batted in. Two freshmen, Jamel Manley and Shanice Anderson, were named to the All-Rookie Team. Track and Field - Darian Brown was named All-CIAA in the men’s 110-meter high hurdles, Morgan Moore for the women’s discus throw, and Marquise Brown Marquise Brown for the men’s long jump. Volleyball - Michelle Oliver claimed the President’s Award for highest GPA.
including West Liberty University in West Virginia, Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and Bowie State in Maryland. Kimberly Miller, Shaw University’s Assistant Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach, created the event to promote the softball team and raise funds for the athletic department. “I tossed out the idea of hosting a softball challenge to a few coaches I knew,” said Miller. “The idea grew from there and I was pleasantly surprised at the great turnout we had.” However, the weekend was not just about softball; it was also about community involvement. Before the Challenge began, 11 teams participated in a community service clinic by teaching girls 14 years and younger the skills required to play softball. The Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department sponsored the youth clinic. “We reached out to local middle schools and posted the information about the clinic on our reclink website,” said Toni Moyer of the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department. “It was important for Raleigh Parks and Recreation to get involved to show the girls that we work with local, collegiate fast pitch softball teams in the area.” The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA), a division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, also sponsored the Challenge. “The Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance was thrilled to be a local partner and sponsor of the inaugural Shaw University
Even more importantly, 35 student athletes crossed the stage and received their diplomas in May. Eight of the studentathletes graduated with honors. Lolia Kienka (tennis), Caleb Reid (football) and Ataide Suca (tennis) all graduated summa cum laude, finishing their college careers with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.75 or above. Graduating magna cum laude - a final cumulative GPA of 3.50 to 3.74 - were Desiree Bell (tennis) and Sammara Green (track/cross country). Akeem Banks (track), Erneisha Cooper (softball) and Vimbai Mawisire (tennis) graduated cum laude with a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49. Youth Clinic participants
INAUGURAL SOFTBALL CHALLENGE A SUCCESS During the spring season, the Shaw University softball program hosted the first Shaw University Softball Challenge at the Walnut Creek Softball Complex in Raleigh, NC. In conjunction with the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance and the Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department, the challenge drew 25 teams from across the country, Kim Miller
Softball Challenge,” said Jason Philbeck, Sports Marketing Manager for the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. “With 25 NCAA Division II teams participating from across the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., this event offered a great opportunity to showcase and promote Shaw University and its softball program.” According to Philbeck, the GRSA “estimated that the event generated approximately $225,000 in direct visitor spending, which helped to boost the local hospitality industry.” “The impact that these teams had on the Raleigh economy along with the spectators that came had a significant economic impact,” said Moyer. With such a high response from participating schools, there is no surprise that teams want to sign up for next year’s challenge. SPRING 2013 | 21