FIELDER, HICKMAN AND HUNTER HIGHLIGHT ATHLETIC AWARDS CEREMONY

Tougaloo, Miss. - The Tougaloo College Department of Athletics hosted its annual athletics awards ceremony on Thursday evening. The ceremony was held in the Bennie G. Thompson Academic and Civil Rights Research Center on the campus. The ceremony honored and recognized student-athletes and coaches for their hard work, dedication and achievements both on and off the playing surface.

The ceremony saw awards given to individuals for academics for athletes of each team with the highest GPA, the overall athlete with the highest GPA, graduating seniors as well as service awards such as the Lafayette Stribling Champions of Character Award and the Larry L. Johnson Fellowship of Christian Athletes Award. Awards were also given the individuals for leadership and team awards selected by the coaches of each team.

To end the night, awards were given for the freshmen of the year, newcomers of the year, athletes of the year and coach of the year. Below are the winners of these awards:

Kanika L. Sharpe Female Freshman of the Year: Ke'Ira Collier

Dennis Sweet, III Male Freshman of the Year: Simar Thomas

Norma J. Williams Female Newcomer of the Year: Berniya Hardin

Edward Blackmon, Jr. Male Newcomer of the Year: Cameron Copeland

Augusta Forest Female Athlete of the Year: Morgan Hunter

Jerry Nickens Male Athlete of the Year: Tyler Hickman & Trajan Fielder

Jerry H. Lewis Coach of the Year: Thomas J. Billups

The ceremony was hosted by Sports Information Director and Head Cross Country, Eric A. Pilcher and included remarks from Athletic Director Keith Barnes, Sr. and the 14th President of Tougaloo College, Dr. Carmen J. Walters.