MURFREESBORO, N.C. - The Chowan University Department of Athletics had an exhilarating final few weeks of the academic year. The month of April featured celebrations, bestowed honors, and highlighted achievements of the more than 400 student-athletes who wear the blue and white.
On April 24th, 2024, the Chowan University Student-Athlete Advisory Committee hosted the 7th Annual S.A.A.C. Champions event with 14 student-athletes competing against one another in various physical activities like tug-of-war and dodgeball. The teams paired up for the grand finale of the evening, the Lip Sync Battle. After the judges tallied the final scores, it was Diana Rodriquez (volleyball) and Angel Diaz (baseball), who took home the 2024 S.A.A.C. Champions Title. Participating teams included:
On April 25th, 2024, Chowan University hosted its annual senior banquet. The evening featured a sit down dinner with University faculty, staff, and invited guests. Traditionally the night features four seniors who are chosen to address their peers with speeches that reflect on their time at Chowan. Two of the four chosen senior speakers were student-athletes. Skyler Davies, a member of the CU men's basketball team, and Manuela Jimenez, a member of the CU women's tennis team, were chosen as senior banquet speakers this year.
On April 28th, 2024, the athletic department hosted its annual awards night to honor student-athlete achievements over the course of the academic year. Just over 400 student-athletes and university staff filled Turner Auditorium for this year's awards night. The blue carpet affair was a sneaker ball theme. The night, hosted jointly by the athletic department and the student-athlete advisory committee, celebrated the successes that student-athletes and teams experienced throughout the academic year.
Dr. Danny Moore, Pro Vost of the University, tapped in 53 new members of the National Student-Athlete Honor Society, Chi Alpha Sigma. This year's class marked the 2nd largest class inducted since its inception on campus in 2016. Thirty eight student-athletes received graduation cords. To be tapped into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must be a junior or senior, maintain a 3.4 cumulative grade point average, and be in good standing with their respective teams.
The S.A.A.C. presented individual awards for sportsmanship, for perseverance in the face of adversity, to freshmen who excelled on their teams, and in the weight room. Teams voted on superlatives such as team comedian and team mom or team dad. The men's lacrosse team took home the team spirit belt for the second year in a row. In all, more than 250 of our student-athletes were recognized for their achievements in these areas.
Patrick Mashuda awarded Aleksei Beloipetskii (men's swimming) the Male Athlete of the Year while Grace Taylor (women's lacrosse) was named the Female Athlete of the Year.
Dr. Rosemary M. Thomas, University President, awarded four Presidential Excellence in Athletics Awards. Taking home one of the night's top honors was Erica Mock (women's swimming), Kashara Simpson (women's cross country/women's lacrosse), Daylan Askew (men's basketball), and Eric George (men's lacrosse). The Presidential Excellence in Athletic Award honors student-athletes who excel in their respective sports, the classroom, and in the community.
Dr. Torrence Gill, the University's Faculty Athletic Representative, handed out awards to the top academic performers. The softball and the baseball teams took home the departments top team grade point averages while Erica Mock (women's swimming) and Manuela Jimenez (women's tennis) garnered the highest individual sport grade point averages.
To close out the athletics awards night, Patrick Mashuda awarded student-athlete cords to 87 graduating seniors. Student-athlete cords are earned for participating in good standing with one of Chowan's sanctioned sports teams. Cords are worn on graduation day each year and represent the University colors of royal blue and white.
On May 4th, 2024, 87 student-athletes and 17 graduate student-athletes walked across the stage on graduation day to culminate their academic careers at Chowan. Each year at graduation, University administration chooses graduation speakers. This year four of the five graduation speakers were student-athletes. Erica Mock (women's swimming), Colin Riddick (baseball), Kashara Simpson (women's cross country/women's lacrosse), and Patrck Krack (baseball) addressed their peers in heartfelt speeches recapping their time at Chowan. Each of the speakers gave thanks to the many influences that helped them to reach their fullest potential during their time at Chowan.
In all, 140 undergraduate degrees and 34 graduate degrees were conferred at the University's 165th Commencement
A photo gallery and recap of the 2024 graduation ceremony can be found by clicking here.
