FRANKFORT, Ky. – The K-Club held their annual awards banquet at the student-center ballroom on the Kentucky State University campus this past Friday evening.
 
The K-Club is an alumni booster club comprised of former Kentucky State University student-athletes and supporters of Kentucky State athletics. In addition to raising support for Kentucky State athletics, the K-Club is responsible for collecting nominations and inducting new members into the Kentucky State Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
This year's banquet was presided over by the new K-Club interim president and former Kentucky State track and field star Randy Williams. Williams, who collected numerous All-American honors in his time at Kentucky State, was named interim president of the K-Club this past July.
 
"I've been very involved with the K-Club for the past ten or so years so it was an easy decision to take up the role of interim president when Wendell (Thomas) asked me to step in," Williams said. "I'm going to give it my all to continue the tradition of supporting Kentucky State athletics while also getting more people involved with the K-Club."
 
This year the K-Club handed out the inaugural "Lorenzo A. Croft Award" to one outstanding student-athlete from each of Kentucky State's 13 intercollegiate programs at the K-Club banquet Friday evening.
 
"Kentucky State runs through Mr. Croft's blood," Williams said of the namesake of the new Lorenzo A. Croft Award. "He is more than deserving to be honored in this way and I'm so happy that he was able to be here as the award was given out for the first time."

The award was created in honor of Lorenzo A. Croft, a former Kentucky State football and track and field student-athlete who has been a longtime supporter of Kentucky State University. The award will be given at the K-Club banquet every year to student-athletes that show they can balance being an exemplary student in the classroom, a leader in the community and an elite competitor in their sport.

"It's such a wonderful honor to have my name associated with an award given to such outstanding student-athletes," Croft said of the new award. "Kentucky State helped to shape my life and make me who I am today so I'll forever be grateful to be a Thorobred."
 
Lorenzo A. Croft Bio

• Native of Detroit, Michigan
• Earned bachelor's degree from Kentucky State in 1953
• Participated in track & field and football from 1949-1953
• Earned master's at Eastern Michigan University
• Taught at Ecorse High School (Detroit, MI) for 35 years
• Served as Athletic Director at EHS fo 20 years
• Served as track & field coach at EHS for 30 years
• 10 Class B State Championships and four State runners-up
• 2 time MITCA Coach of the Year
• Member: Miller HS Hall of Fame, Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
• 15 years basketball coach at Ecorse (7th grade-JV)
• Gymnasium at Ecorse High School is named after Mr. Croft
• Coach on Midwest Meet of Champions staff
• Hockey coach 1978-80 (State runners-up in 1978)
• Spouse: Geraldine Carter Croft (62 years)
• Children: Celeste, Joann, Mark, Catherine, & Virginia

 
"It is truly an honor to have the K-Club acknowledge our student-athletes who not only lead on the field but also in the classroom," Interim Director of Athletics, Harry Stinson said. "Our student-athletes are truly standing on the shoulders of those who came before them and those who are in the K-Club Hall of Fame."
 
Stinson was one of several speakers, including Kentucky State Interim President Raymond Burse, SAAC President Alexander Davie and others to speak at Friday's event.
 
"Having an event like this and it being a part of the homecoming festivities is a true testament of our alumni giving back," Stinson continued. "We thank Randy Williams, Wendell Thomas and the rest of the K-Club for their hard work and for bridging the gap between our tradition of the past and our vision for Kentucky State athletics in the future."
 
2014 "Lorenzo A. Croft Award" Student-Athlete Bios
 
Football
#7 Deshon Floyd
Position: Defensive Line
Height: 6-0
Class: Senior
Hometown: Frankfort, KY 
Previous School: Frankfort High School
Deshon Floyd, a local product from Frankfort High School, is a true student-athlete. Floyd is a four year letterman for the Thorobreds football team with 39 career tackles and 5 career sacks. Even more impressive than his on-the-field play is his dedication in the classroom. Floyd is a 4.0 student that is currently in the application process for the prestigious Rhodes scholarship.
 
Men's Basketball
#22 Quentin Henderson
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
Class: Junior
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Previous School: Wright State University
Quentin Henderson is the starting point guard for the Thorobred men's basketball team. Henderson averaged 7.7 points and 3.3 assists per game for Kentucky State last season. He was recently named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-SIAC team. Henderson holds a 3.34 GPA and was a member of the 2013-14 SIAC All-Academic Team.
 
Baseball
#17 Alexander Davie
Position: OF
Height: 5-9
Class: Senior
Hometown: Clarksville, TN
Previous School: Christian County KS
Alexander Davie is one of the top offensive weapons for the Thorobreds baseball team. Davie hit .323 from the plate last season helping drive in in 39 runs. Davie is an excellent example of a true student-athlete. Davie is the President of the Kentucky State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and holds a 3.6 GPA.
 
Men's Cross Country
Austin Dillow
Class: Junior
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, KY
Previous School: Anderson County HS
Since arriving on campus at Kentucky State, Austin Dillow has been an impact student-athlete. He is one of the top cross country runners for KSU as well as an accomplished distance runner on the track and field teams. Last year he was a member of the 2013 SIAC Cross Country Men's All-Conference Team as well at the 2014 SIAC Outdoor Track Men's All-Conference Team. Helped lead the Thorobreds to a 2013 Cross Country SIAC West Division Regular Season Championship.
 
Men's Track & Field
Kieren Broussard
Class: Senior
Hometown: Fairfield, CA
Previous School: Rodrigruez HS
Kieren Broussard has been one of the top male runners at Kentucky State for several years now. Broussard was a part of the 2013 SIAC Cross Country Men's All-Conference Team. Was nominated as the 2013-14 Indoor South Region Track Athlete of the Year. Broussard became an NCAA DII provisional qualifier in the 800 meter event for both the indoor and outdoor seasons last year. Broussard is the two time defending 800m and 1500m SIAC Outdoor Champion.
 
Men's Golf
Joseph White
Height: 5-10
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, KY
Previous School: Georgetown College
Jo Jo White helped lead the 2013-14 Men's Golf team to the 2014 SIAC Men's Golf Championship last year. White earned a spot on the 2014 SIAC All-Conference 2nd Team as well as a spot on the SIAC All-Tournament Team. White was the top-finisher at the 2014 Bluegrass Spring Classic after shooting a tournament low 74.
 
Women's Basketball
#22 Shayla Moore
Position: Guard/Forward
Height: 5-11
Class: Senior
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Previous School: Southfield HS
Shayla Moore is a leader for the women's basketball team not only on the court but off it as well. Moore averaged 9.7 points and 7.2 rebounds a game last season on her way to a place on the 2013-14 SIAC All-Conference Team. Moore was also recently named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-SIAC Team. Moore was also honored for being an all-around student-athlete last season when she was named to the 2013-14 SIAC All-Academic Team with a 3.38 GPA.
 
Women's Cross Country
Alijah Carpenter
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Previous School: Walnut Hills
Alijah Carpenter helped lead the women's cross country team to the 2013 SIAC West Division Regular Season Championship.
 
Women's Track & Field
Robyn Thompson
Event: Throws
Class: Junior
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Previous School: Central HS
Place sixth in the discus event with a career best distance of 33.39 meters at the 2014 SIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Softball
#1 JacQualyn Paysinger
Position: Outfielder
Height: 5-4
Class: Senior
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Previous School: Pike High School
"Jac" Paysinger is not only a member of the Kentucky State softball team but she is very involved is activities off of the field of play. Paysinger is a writer for the on-campus newspaper.
 
Volleyball
#5 Emily Grieshaber
Position: Outside Hitter
Height: 5-10
Class: Senior
Hometown: Thorntown, IN
Previous School: Western Boone HS
Emily Greishaber is one of the most decorated student-athletes at Kentucky State. Grieshaber has helped lead Kentucky State to a pair of SIAC Volleyball Championships in her time at KSU while also compiling several individual awards. Those include:
2014 Pre-Season All-SIAC Team
2013 Most Outstanding Player of the SIAC Championship Tournament
2013 SIAC Championship All-Tournament Team
2013 Daktronics All-South Region Volleyball Second Team
2013 SIAC Volleyball Player of the Year
2013 SIAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year
2013 SIAC All-Conference First Team
2013 Pre-Season All-SIAC Team