All-Sports Banquet Highlights Student-Athletes
The Columbia College All-Sports Banquet took place Wednesday evening. The ceremonies featured guest speaker Jud Damon, team awards, the Erma Kizer Rushton Scholarship, the Lucille Godbold Scholarship, the Laurie B. Hopkins Academic Excellence Award, and Medallion Award.
Jud Damon, Director of Athletics at Georgia College and State University, was the featured speaker for the evening. Damon, previously the Director of Athletics for NAIA member Savannah College of Arts and Design, spoke on the core values of the NAIA's Champions of Character program. The program lies on five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership, and sportsmanship.
The athletic department presented four department awards to athletes showing excellence in the field of competition and in the classroom.
Ashley Chapman, a sophomore member of the tennis team, was the recipient of the Erma Kiser Rushton Scholarship. The Erma Kizer Rushton Scholarship is awarded to the student-athlete who actively displays integrity, sportsmanship and heart.
The Lucille Godbold Scholarship award is presented to the student-athlete who demonstrates athletic excellence in her sport. The 2008-09 Lucille Godbold scholarship went to a sophomore on the Columbia College basketball squad, Porcha Williams. Williams was also awarded Most Valuable Palyer for the basketball team.
The Dr. Laurie B. Hopkins Award for Academic Excellence was presented to senior Lauren Bach of the volleyball team. Named after the athletic department's Faculty Athletics Representative, the award is granted to the student-athlete with the highest grade point average in the department.
The Athletic Medallion award is the top award given to a student-athlete from the athletic department. Recipients of this award demonstrate respect, sportsmanship, responsibility and athleticism while excelling academically. This year's award-winner was Megan Brown, a four-year member of the tennis team and this year's team captain. Megan is also very active in community organizations including service with the American Red Cross as a regional board member.
See Video Highlights of Department Awards
