Fort Valley State University

The Fort Valley State University Department of Athletics recently held its annual Athletics Awards Banquet at the Health and Physical Education Complex located on campus. Athletes representing all eleven intercollegiate sports picked up awards for academic as well as athletic performances during the 2007-08 school year.

Former Fort Valley State athlete and current head coach and director of athletics at Southwest High School Carror Wright served as the guest speaker.

Among the many honors presented was the male and female Athlete of the Year Award. Steven A. Jackson, a defensive back on Fort Valley State’s football team and 2007 track All-American, was picked as the Male Athlete of the Year. Jackson is a native of Warner Robins, Ga. Earning kudos as the Female Athlete of the Year was LaToya Reeves, a member of the Fort Valley State women’s volleyball team and track team. Reeves, who’s from Birmingham, Ala., was named to the 2007 All-SIAC volleyball team.

The Male and Female Academic Athletes of the Year were also announced. Geoffery Turner, a member of the Fort Valley State men’s tennis team, picked up the award as the Male Academic Athlete of the Year. Turner, who’s major is biology, carries a 3.54 GPA and is from Crawfordville, Ga. Sherriann Norris, a member of the Lady Wildcats’ volleyball and tennis teams, was named as the Female Academic Athlete of the Year. Norris, who hails from Barbados, carries a 3.62 GPA in mathematics. The Lady Wildcats’ softball team earned the award as the Female Team with the Highest GPA, while the men’s tennis team picked up the honor as the Male Team with the Highest GPA. Fort Valley’s men’s and women’s tennis team earned the Community Service Award.

For the first time in school history, one individual picked up the J.E. Hawkins Memorial Award and the Jessie A. Brown Memorial Award. The Hawkins award is given to the coach of a male sport who has done an outstanding job. The Brown award is presented to a coach of a female sport who has put together a stellar season. Emory Lightfoot, Jr., who is interim head men’s basketball coach and the women’s volleyball coach walked away with both plaques. In men’s basketball, Lightfoot led the Wildcats to a 15-14 record and the second round of the SIAC men’s basketball tournament. As volleyball coach, Lightfoot led the Lady Wildcats to the East Region title.

Team Most Valuable Players & Team Awards

• Women’s Volleyball - LaToya Reeves
• Men’s Basketball - Martrez Scott
• Cheerleaders - Jessica Jakes
• Softball - Kimberly Tanner
• Women’s Basketball - Takesha Riggs
• Women’s Tennis - Shakeelah Jackson
• Men’s Tennis - Carlos Vinas
• Men’s Cross Country - Antonio Wells
• Women’s Cross Country - Nicole Mobley
• Most Valuable Student Trainer - Tyrone Bell
• Most Valuable Track (Female) - Nakelah Jackson
• Most Valuable Field (Female) - Antoinette Oglesby
• Most Valuable Track (Male) - Jeffery Mosley
• Most Valuable Field (Male) - Marquis Wesley
• Most Valuable (Football) - Pierre Brown
• Team Community Service - Men’s & Women’s Tennis
• Jessie A. Brown Award - Emory Lightfoot, Jr.
• J.E, Hawkins Award - Emory Lightfoot, Jr.
• Academic Athlete of the Year (Male) - Geoffery Turner
• Academic Athlete of the Year (Female) - Sherriann Norris
• Team with Highest GPA (Male) - Men’s Tennis
• Team with Highest GPA (Female) - Softball
• Male Athlete of the Year - Steven A. Jackson
• Female Athlete of the Year - LaToya Reeves