RALEIGH, N.C. (May 20) – The Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) softball team is serious about its academics.
The Lady Falcons proved it by claiming the CIAA’s highest academic award in the sport. On Wednesday, SAU won the Dr. Freddie Vaughns Highest Team Grade Point Average (GPA) Softball Award for the 2019-20 season. Their cumulative GPA of 3.33 was highest among all CIAA softball teams.
This is the second time in four years that the Lady Falcons claimed the CIAA Highest Team GPA Softball Award under veteran Head Coach Dot Neal. The Lady Falcons were co-winners of the award in 2017.
“I am extremely proud of my girls,” Neal said. “They thrived in their schoolwork despite the circumstances. I am glad they are recognized for their hard work. They truly deserve the award.”
The members of the 2020 softball team are Briana Person (So./Jarratt, VA), Chandra Mackey (Jr./Nassau, Bahamas), Noel McNeil (Sr./Temple Hills, MD), Shaquelle Bain (So./Nassau, Bahamas), Dawayna Pratt (So./Nassau, Bahamas), Celine Jones (Sr./Grand Bahama, Bahamas), Gia Minnis (So./Nassau, Bahamas), Noemi Garo (So./Tela, Honduras), Tatyana Hall (So./Greensboro, NC), Makayla August (Sr./Palm Springs, CA), Yasmine Thompson (Fr./Charlotte, NC), Mimi Morris (Sr./Nassau, Bahamas) and Kayla Jordan (So./Charlotte, NC). The assistant coach is Reginald Cooper.
The Dr. Freddie Vaughns Highest Team Academic Award is given to the teams with the highest cumulative GPA in each of the CIAA’s sponsored sports. The CIAA recognized the winners during its annual spring meeting.
The CIAA Highest Team GPA Award was renamed in honor of Dr. Freddie Vaughns, a former Bowie State University Faculty Athletic Representative, prior to the 2018-19 academic year. Dr. Vaughns passed away in 2015.
CIAA Highest GPA Awards, 2020:
| Sport | Institution | Team GPA |
| Football | Livingstone College | 2.84 |
| Volleyball | Virginia Union University | 3.51 |
| Men’s Cross Country | Shaw University | 3.33 |
| Women’s Cross Country | Johnson C. Smith University | 3.58 |
| Men’s Indoor Track & Field | Livingstone College | 3.14 |
| Women’s Indoor Track & Field | Virginia Union University | 3.33 |
| Men’s Basketball | Livingstone College | 3.15 |
| Women’s Basketball | Livingstone College | 3.39 |
| Bowling | Virginia Union University | 3.53 |
| Golf | Livingstone College | 3.60 |
| Women’s Tennis | Virginia Union University | 3.65 |
| Softball | Saint Augustine’s University | 3.33 |
| Men’s Outdoor Track & Field | Livingstone College | 3.17 |
| Women’s Outdoor Track & Field | Virginia Union University | 3.27 |
| Cheerleading | Claflin University | 3.29 |
— Office of Sports Information
