CHARLOTTE, N.C. — 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.
Institution awards went to Fayetteville State and Virginia Union.
FSU once secured the Loretta Taylor Women’s All‑Sports Award, presented to the conference’s top women’s athletics program based on a championship point system. During the 2025–26 season, the Broncos won conference championships in cross country, volleyball, indoor track & feld, and bowling, fnished runner-up in women’s basketball, and placed third at the outdoor track & feld championship.
Virginia Union took home the C.H. Williams All‑Sports Trophy awarded annually to the institution with the conference’s top men’s athletic program. The Panthers won titles in indoor and outdoor track, the latter the frst in 92 years of competition. This marks the second time Virginia Union has earned the honor after previously winning the award during the 2023- 24 academic year. Virginia Union also became the fIrst private institution to win the award multiple times since Hampton University accomplished the feat in 1991, 1992, and 1993.
Among the afternoon’s highest individual honors were the CIAA Scholar Athlete of the Year awards.
Faith Kiplimo of Fayetteville State, a freshman distance runner from Kenya, 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. Kiplimo won the 5,000 meters at the CIAA Outdoor Track & Field championships and took frsts indoors at 800 meters, one mile, 3,000 meters and the distance medley relay.
Jamieson Alston, an all-CIAA linebacker for Winston-Salem State football, 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. Alston led the Rams with 81 tackles, 12.5 tackles for losses.
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, a women’s volleyball player at Fayetteville State and Janiah Beech, a cheerleader at Elizabeth City State.
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 in recognition of her longstanding commitment to student athlete success and institutional leadership.
Deron Norwood of Fayetteville State was named the 2026 CIAA Compliance Director of the Year, while Tristan Gunter of Bowie State earned the John Holley Sports Information Director of the Year Award.
Lataya Hilliard Gray of Elizabeth City State received Senior Woman Administrator of the Year honors for her leadership, advocacy, and service within collegiate athletics. Anthony Bennett of Fayetteville State 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 ECSU, in recognition of his servant leadership, steady guidance, and commitment to advancing the CIAA during a period of transition and growth for the conference.
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.