Hampton, VA - Twenty student-athletes representing eleven of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (CIAA) twelve member schools have been named to the CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team. This year's team defines the total NCAA DII student-athlete experience with each member excelling on their respective playing fields and courts as well as in their classrooms and communities.
“Being a Division II and CIAA student-athlete means living Life in the Balance,” notes Commissioner Leon G. Kerry. “That means dedicating an equal amount of excellence towards academic pursuits, athletic accomplishment and personal development. This year's honorees embody that concept and we're forever proud of them for their hard work.”
Ten CIAA student-athletes were named First Team CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team. Those ten student-athletes boasted a 3.76 overall grade point average. The second team also consists of ten student-athletes, averaging a 3.8 overall grade point average. Johnson C. Smith University placed two student-athletes on this year's team while Saint Augustine's continued their dominance on the team with four team members, including two on the first team.
Saint Augustine's ran their way to the top of this year's team with three student-athletes from each squad represented. Saint Augustine's College was headlined by Allison Sikes (Richmond, VA) and Orolando Duffus (St. Catherine, Jamaica). Both student-athletes earned spots on the first team. Sikes, a member of the SAC women's basketball program, was this year's CIAA Women's Basketball Player of the Year and was a three-time All-CIAA selection. She graduated Magna Cum Laude earlier this month. Duffus maintains a 3.92 GPA in Business Administration while also sporting Five NCAA DII Track & Field All American titles. Duffus is a two time member of the CIAA Commissioner's Scholar-Athlete Team. Duffus was named last year's CIAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
JCSU's
Leford Green (St. Catherine, Jamaica) was named to the First Team for the Golden Bulls. The All-American Track & Field athlete is a three-time member of the CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team. Green has had a superior year in athletics. At the NCAA DII Indoor Championships, Green won the National title in the 400m dash and 4x400m relay. He earned indoor All-American honors for his performance. Green was also named USTFCCCA Regional and National Indoor Athlete of the Year. He won the CIAA Indoor and Outdoor title in the 400m. Green won CIAA Outdoor MVP honors and recently earned the College 400m Hurdles Championship at the Penn Relays.
Shaw University also placed two student-athletes of the First Team in Kalada Kienka (Lagos, Nigeria), Lolia Kienda (Lagos, Nigeria). Kalada Kienka has compiled a 3.95 overall grade point average in Computer Science. He was named Shaw's Outstanding Student in Computer Science, an award usually reserved for senior ranking students. He was also named to the All-CIAA Men's Tennis Team after helping his team win their seventh straight conference championships. Lolia Kienka was named to the CIAA Women's Tennis Team after going 16-0 in conference play and maintains a 3.92 GPA in Business/International Relations.
The CIAA Commissioner's Scholar-Athlete Second Team is made up of ten deserving athletes, led by Sarah Danaher (Waitsfield, VT) who maintained a 4.0 GPA in French/Secondary Education. She was Lincoln's best bowler this season. Livingstone's Bryan Acoth (Salisbury, NC) has a 3.87 GPA in Biology and led the Blue Bear defense with 67 tackles. BSU's Jasmine Nixon (Middletown, NY) led the Lady Bulldogs volleyball team in kills and points this season while also maintaining a 3.8 GPA in Psychology.
JCSU senior
Shermaine Williams (St. Andrew, Jamaica) has a 3.77 GPA majoring in Biology. Williams has been stellar in her senior year during the indoor and outdoor season. At the CIAA Indoor Championships, Williams won the title in the 60m Hurdles, 60m Dash, and 200m Dash. She earned CIAA Indoor MVP. Williams placed 5th in the 200m and 3rd in the 60m H at the 2011 NCAA DII Indoor Championships (All-American honors).
At the CIAA Outdoor Championships, Williams earned Outdoor MVP after capturing the 100m H and 4x100m relay crowns. Williams was named 2010-11 Pettis Norman Student-Athlete of the Year and the Coca-Cola Academic Award winner this season at the JCSU Annual Athletics Awards Ceremony. She was also one of five Golden Bull women named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track& Field Team. Instrumental component in the JCSU Women's Outdoor Track & Field team winning their 1st CIAA Championship in school history.
The CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team is voted on by the CIAA Sports Information Directors' Association and is in its 14th year. To be eligible for the team a student-athlete must have completed one academic year at a CIAA institution, earned a minimum 3.2 grade point average, and have excelled as a starter or significant reserve in a CIAA sanctioned sport.
First Team
Orolando Duffus {SAC / Track & Field / SR / 3.92 / St. Catherine, Jamaica / Business Administration}
Tricia Gorman {CU / Softball / SR / 3.51 / Ambridge, PA / Psychology}
Leford Green {JCSU / Track & Field / SR / 3.77 / St. Catherine, Jamaica / Information Systems Engineering}
Kalada Kienka {SU / Men's Tennis / SR / 3.95 / Lagos, Nigeria / Computer Science}
Lolia Kienka {SU / Women's Tennis / JR / 3.92 / Lagos, Nigeria / Business/International Relations}
Allie Kolezynski {CU / Softball / SO / 3.93 / Strongsville, OH / Business Administration}
Allison Sikes {SAC / Women's Bskt. / SR / 3.61 / Richmond, VA / Psychology}
Rhon'Neisha Taylor {VSU / Women's Bskt. / SR / 3.44 / Nashville, TN / Sport Management}
Travis Taylor {WSSU / Football / SR / 3.75 / Newberry, SC / Political Science}
Justin Parker {VSU / Football/Golf / SR / 3.76 / Chesterfield, VA / HPER}
Second Team
Adidias Arrington {VUU / Football / SR / 3.56 / Norfolk, VA / Criminal Justice}
Bryan Aycoth {LC / Football/T&F / JR / 3.87 / Salisbury, NC / Biology}
Christopher Copeland {SAC / Track & Field / JR / 3.66 / Suffolk, VA / Sport Management}
Sarah Danaher {LUP / Women's Bowling / FR / 4.00 / Waitsfield, VT / French/Secondary Education}
Brucelee Sterile {LUP / Football / JR / 3.8 / Miami, FL / Business Management}
Maximilian Glodde {WSSU / Men's Tennis / SR / 3.98 / Potsdam, Germany / Economics & Finance}
Dallin Gray {FSU / Football / SO / 3.95 / Mebane, NC / Physical Education}
Jasmine Nixon {BSU / Volleyball / SO / 3.80 / Middletown, NY / Psychology}
Kathryn Tokarski {SAC / VB/SB/T&F / JR / 3.81 / Saskatchewan, CAN / Human Performance}
Shermaine Williams {JCSU / Track & Field / SR / 3.77 / St. Andrew, Jamaica / Biology}
School Legend
BSU - Bowie State University
CU - Chowan University
FSU - Fayetteville State University
JCSU - Johnson C. Smith University
LC - Livingstone College
LUP - Lincoln University (PA)
SAC - St. Augustine's College
SU - Shaw University
VSU - Virginia State University
VUU - Virginia Union University
WSSU - Winston-Salem State University
