FRANKFORT, Ky.—On Thursday, April 7, 2011 Kentucky State University held its 48th Annual Honors Convocation, during which numerous student-athletes were recognized for their academic success.
The Convocation was held at KSU's Bradford Hall Auditorium and welcomed guest speaker Dr. Muriel A. Howard, president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. As AASCU's first female president, Dr. Howard is an advocate for public higher education at the national level, working to influence federal policy and regulations on behalf of member colleges and universities.
Kentucky State University, a diverse and unique liberal studies, 1890 land grant institute, is a comprehensive institution that effectively utilizes its resources to create an exceptional learning community. In its curricula, services and outreach, the University remains committed to its rich heritage and dedicated to its future. Outstanding faculty and staff prepare leaders committed to continuous improvement in the opportunities for expression and participation in the life of the University, the Commonwealth, the nation and the world.
The Department of Athletics strives to provide a comprehensive program that emphasizes academic, athletic and personal excellence. Embracing the objectives and purpose of KSU, the athletics program provides opportunities for students to compete and develop successfully, grow as responsible citizens and maintain a varied program of educational experiences. The department seeks to promote an environment that emphasizes fair play, integrity, sportsmanship, education and overall health and fitness by recruiting, retaining and graduating nationally competitive student-athletes and by hiring staff members committed to the highest level of professional integrity.
The student-athletes honored at the Convocation embody both the mission of the University and Department of Athletics. Balancing academics and athletics is tremendously difficult; however, the overall GPA in athletics has increased from 2.394 to 2.614 since the 2007-2008 school year, with 30% of student-athletes maintaining a 3.00 GPA or higher.
The student-athletes' ability to balance academics, athletics and community service is admirable and the reason the student-athlete graduation rate is 15% higher than the general student body.
The list of student-athlete honorees is as follows:
PRESIDENT'S AWARDS
FRESHMAN AWARD
(4.0 Grade Point Average, Freshman year)
Jenna Shingary (Softball)
SOPHOMORE AWARD
(4.0 Grade Point Average, Sophomore year)
Teya Everett (Softball)
James M. Hamilton (Baseball)
SENIOR AWARD
(Graduating seniors with the five highest Grade Point Averages)
Latrice C. Watkins (Women's Basketball)
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AWARD
(Highest GPA)
Kayla Lewis (Softball)
Division of Literature, Languages and Philosophy
OUTSTANDING JUNIORS IN JOURNALISM AWARD
(At least 3.0 GPA, demonstrated service to the major)
Krisja Curlin (Women's Cross Country and Track and Field)
OUTSTANDING SOPHOMORE IN JOURNALISM AWARD
(At least 3.0 GPA, and active in the major)
Caitlyn Pierotti (Softball)
OUTSTANDING FRESHMAN IN JOURNALISM AWARD
(At least 3.0 GPA, and active in the major)
Julian Jeter-Davis (Golf)
Division of Mathematics and Sciences
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN BIOLOGY AWARD
(A GPA of 3.5 or above; Major in Biology; currently enrolled Junior or Senior)
Raven Ward (Women's Basketball)
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN CHEMISTRY AWARD
(A GPA of 3.5 or above; Major in Chemistry; currently enrolled Junior or Senior)
Courtney Pottinger (Cross Country)
OUTSTANDING SOPHOMORES IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCES AWARD
(Currently enrolled MASC major who has completed between 45 and 59 semester hours and has a GPA of 3.5 or above)
George Dundon (Men's Golf)
Teya Everett (Softball)
Tiffany Jones (Women's Cross Country and Track and Field)
Division of Computer and Technical Sciences
OUTSTANDING SENIOR IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AWARD
(Full-time Senior; highest GPA in Computer Science)
Isaiah Adams (Football, Men's Track and Field)
School of Business
OUTSTANDING SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
(Outstanding Senior; GPA of 3.0 or above)
DeNae Shelton (Volleyball)
School of Public Administration, Social Work and Criminal Justice
RECOGNITION OF ACADEMIC ACHEIVEMENT IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
(GPA 3.0 of above)
Tyson Dawson (Football)
Jared Garrett (Football)
School of Education
OUTSTANDING SENIORS IN EDUCATION AWARD
(GPA 3.9 or above; demonstrates leadership and commitment to teaching)
Latrice C. Watkins (Women's Basketball)
THE MILDRED JACOBS AWARD
(Leadership and Dedication to the teaching profession)
Latrice C. Watkins (Women's Basketball)
SPRING 2010 DEAN'S LIST
Isaiah Adams (Football, Men's Track & Field)
Anthony Boykins (Football)
Julian Brown (Football & Men's Basketball)
Taylor Claiborne (Volleyball)
Erica Coleman (Volleyball)
Xavier Dillard (Football)
Ramona Douglas (Volleyball)
Asia Dubose (Women's Basketball)
Teya Everett (Softball)
Canetra Ford (Softball)
Jared Garrett (Football)
Jarrod Gay (Men's Basketball)
Ciara Gibson (Volleyball, Women's Track & Field)
Jessica Greene (Women's Basketball, Women's Track and Field)
Rakel Hankins (Volleyball, Women's Track & Field)
Ahunuar Huerta (Men's Cross Country)
Tiffany Jones (Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field)
Shana McCombs (Women's Basketball)
Kamani Meriwether (Volleyball)
Kiarra Morgan (Women's Basketball)
Namarr Newson (Baseball)
Lamara Parker (Softball)
Courtney Pottinger (Women's Cross Country)
Joanna Powell (Women's Basketball)
Stephen Scarborough (Football)
Monique Scroggins (Women's Track & Field)
Fatimah Shabazz (Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field)
DeNae Shelton (Volleyball)
Robert Swapshire (Football)
Jessica Vaughn (Women's Basketball)
Latrice Watkins (Women's Basketball)
DaZaro Zeigler (Football)
FALL 2010 DEAN'S LIST
Isaiah Adams (Football, Men's Track & Field)
Jasmine Anderson (Softball)
Carlos Carter (Men's Basketball)
Erica Coleman (Volleyball)
Kiaira Crockett (Women's Basketball)
Brandon Curry (Football)
Tonisha Delorch (Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field)
Asia Dubose (Women's Basketball)
Chas Duncan (Baseball)
George Dundon (Men's Golf)
Teya Everett (Softball)
Destiney Finch (Softball)
Deshon Floyd (Football)
John Gaston (Men's Basketball)
James Hamilton (Baseball)
Danny Horn (Football)
Josh Jackson (Football, Men's Golf)
Terrell Johnson (Football)
Tiffany Jones (Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field)
William Marsh (Men's Basketball)
Cortney Matthewis (Women's Basketball)
Russell McCall (Football)
Shana McCombs (Women's Basketball)
Kamani Meriwether (Volleyball)
Daniel Neely (Men's Golf)
Jeremiah Newton (Baseball)
Lamara Parker (Softball)
Caitlyn Pierotti (Softball)
Courtney Pottinger (Women's Cross Country)
Joanna Powell (Women's Basketball)
Austin Rich (Men's Basketball)
DeNae Shelton (Volleyball)
Jenna Shingary (Softball)
Jessica Vaughn (Women's Basketball)
Tianna Williams (Women's Track & Field)
FALL 2010 ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
Zachery Carr (Football)
SPRING2010 ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
Chas Duncan (Baseball)
Kristopher Rush (Baseball)
