RICHMOND, VA (May 14, 2024) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) held its annual Spring General Assembly meeting and end-of-year awards reception in Richmond, VA. The conference office announced its highest administrative and team awards at the reception on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Anii Harris of Bowie State University was selected as the 2023-2024 CIAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year while Daylin Lee of Winston-Salem State University was voted as the CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Harris led the CIAA in scoring this season (19.5 ppg) while averaging 2.1 assists per game and recently eclipsed a career milestone of scoring her 1,000th career point. Lee was not only a standout on the field but in the classroom as well. As a pre-computer science major, Daylin has a 3.93 grade point average. Lee also recorded 1845 total yards, with 18 touchdowns, and five rushing touchdowns on the season leading him to be named to the All-CIAA Second Team. 
 
Claflin University's, Tony O'Neal was named CIAA Athletic Director of the Year. O'Neal has been instrumental in overseeing several facility improvements at Claflin University's basketball arena, including new seating and the construction of a hospitality suite. O’Neal is also credited with the renovations of the Claflin University women’s basketball and volleyball locker rooms. Another feather in his cap is his leadership in maintaining a high academic standard, with 82% of Claflin student-athletes maintaining a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Sixteen of those students have achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA. Wrapping up this school year, O’Neal also oversaw the Claflin University men’s indoor track & field team, leading them to their second straight CIAA championship.

Fayetteville State University’s Lawanda Miller received the Jeanette Lee Athletic Administrator of the Year award, which is given to an administrator within the membership at the recommendation of the CIAA Commissioner for servant leadership and embodies the commitment exemplified by Lee, former CIAA Coach and Athletic Administrator.  

Matisse Lee of Claflin University was voted by her peers as the CIAA Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) of the Year. Embarking on a journey of continuous growth and excellence, we are thrilled to highlight her strides in the realm of athletics over the past academic year. Nominated for prestigious accolades such as Claflin University Employee of the Year and Administrator of the Year, with the winners to be announced on May 10th, she has been recognized for her dedication and contributions on campus. Moreover, Lee’s commitment to excellence has led to her selection by the CIAA conference office for the esteemed 2024 MOAA DII Governance Academy. Additionally, Matisse earned the the privilege of serving as an on-stage personality for the CIAA at the Annual Tip Off Awards Ceremony, further solidifying her involvement and impact within the CIAA. Lee also served as a crowd favorite PA announcer for the CIAA Basketball Tournament.

Dr. Jolisa Williams of Bowie State University was named CIAA John Holley Sports Information Director (SID) of the Year. Dr. Williams has spearheaded a remarkable transformation within Bowie State Athletics throughout the 2023-24 season, building upon her impactful tenure beginning in 2021. Dr. Williams has consistently championed all 13 varsity sports teams at Bowie State University, meticulously crafting preview stories, game recaps, and statistical game notes essential for each sport. Her proficiency extends to creating captivating graphics for all-conference honors, game day promotions, and individual accolades, setting the standard within the CIAA. Under her stewardship, the athletic website boasts a sleek, user-friendly interface, facilitating seamless navigation for audiences. Dr. Williams' strategic approach also revitalized the department's social media presence, with Instagram amassing over 3,000 followers, Twitter (X) nearly doubling its followers to almost 9,000, and Facebook experiencing significant growth from 508 likes and 531 followers to over 1.1k followers and 851 likes. Through her dedication and innovation, Bowie State Athletics now enjoys robust promotion across multiple platforms, ensuring each varsity team receives the recognition and support they deserve.

Virginia Union University won the C.H. Williams Men’s All-Sports Award, while Fayetteville State University secured the Loretta Taylor Women’s All-Sports Award. Both recognitions are annually awarded to CIAA institutions with the leading men's and women's athletic programs, determined by a points system. VUU clinched the 2023-2024 conference championship in Football and Golf. Meanwhile, FSU's women's teams seized five conference crowns during the 2023-2024 athletic year, dominating in cross country, basketball, bowling as well as indoor and outdoor track and field.

The Virginia State University athletic department was recognized with the award of Most Positive Game Environment. Selected by members of the CIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the award is given to the school that exhibits good sportsmanship by student-athletes and coaches during both home and away contests.

For the latest information about the CIAA, visit www.theciaa.com or follow the conference on social media via Facebook (The CIAA), Twitter (@CIAAForLife), and Instagram (@CIAASports).

About the CIAA 

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019. 
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.