CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 12, 2026) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) recognized outstanding student athletes, administrators, and member institutions during the 2026 CIAA Membership Awards Luncheon, celebrating excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, service, and institutional achievement throughout the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
Held as part of the conference’s annual membership meetings, the luncheon highlighted the accomplishments of individuals and institutions that continue to advance the legacy and mission of the CIAA through leadership, competitive success, academic excellence, and community impact.
The afternoon opened with remarks from Matisse Lee, who reflected on the conference’s accomplishments throughout the academic year and recognized the continued resilience and growth of the CIAA membership.
The conference also honored members of the 2026 CIAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board for their service and leadership throughout the year. Recipients of the 2026 CIAA SAAC Executive Board Student Service Awards included Darius Satterfield of Elizabeth City State University, Camdyn Peck of Elizabeth City State University, Ethaliah Edouard of Johnson C. Smith University, and Kaiya Wright of Fayetteville State University.
The SAAC Executive Board was recognized for helping lead several impactful conference initiatives, including the inaugural CIAA Unity Walk, the Literacy and Friends Circle Championship, and the expansion of the Literacy and Friends Leadership Challenge, all designed to strengthen student athlete engagement and leadership development across the conference.
Among the afternoon’s highest honors were the CIAA Scholar Athlete of the Year awards.
Faith Kiplimo of Fayetteville State University was named the 2026 CIAA Female Scholar Athlete of the Year after earning a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in Nursing and excelling competitively at the championship level.
Jamieson Alston of Winston-Salem State University earned 2026 CIAA Male Scholar Athlete of the Year honors after maintaining a 3.89 GPA in Business Administration while serving in multiple leadership and honor organizations across campus.
The CIAA also announced the recipients of the 2026 CIAA Post Graduate Scholarships, awarded to graduates pursuing advanced degrees in athletics, sports administration, sports medicine, and media relations. This year’s recipients of the Eric Moore Postgraduate Scholarship, awarded in collaboration with the McLendon Foundation, were Jade Holiday of Fayetteville State University and Janiah Beech of Elizabeth City State University.
The luncheon also celebrated recipients of the CIAA’s annual administrator awards, voted on by conference membership and leadership.
2026 CIAA Faculty Athletics Representative of the Year honors were presented to Dr. Deborah Quick of Johnson C. Smith University in recognition of her longstanding commitment to student athlete success and institutional leadership.
Deron Norwood of Fayetteville State University was named the 2026 CIAA Compliance Director of the Year, while Tristan Gunter of Bowie State University earned the John Holley Sports Information Director of the Year Award.
Lataya Hilliard Gray of Elizabeth City State University received Senior Woman Administrator of the Year honors for her leadership, advocacy, and service within collegiate athletics.
Anthony Bennett of Fayetteville State University was recognized as the 2026 CIAA Athletic Director of the Year, endorsed by BSN SPORTS, for excellence in leadership, competitive success, and student athlete achievement.
The conference’s prestigious Jeanette Lee Award was presented to James DuBose, Director of Athletics at Elizabeth City State University, in recognition of his servant leadership, steady guidance, and commitment to advancing the CIAA during a period of transition and growth for the conference.
Institutional awards were also presented during the luncheon.
Fayetteville State University earned the 2026 Loretta Taylor Women’s All Sports Award, while Virginia Union University received the C.H. Williams Men’s All Sports Award.
Virginia Union University was also recognized with the 2026 Most Positive Game Environment Award, voted on by the CIAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee to acknowledge outstanding sportsmanship demonstrated by student athletes, coaches, and institutions throughout the year.
The luncheon concluded with closing remarks from CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker, who congratulated the conference’s honorees and reflected on another successful year across the association.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association 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, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 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, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.