LORMAN, Miss. – Alcorn State University Athletics hosted its department banquet to honor the student-athletes, staff, and community for their hard work during the 2023-24 season. The department and student-athletes put on their best for the red-carpet themed event, "A Hollywood Soiree".
Each head coach gave superlatives to players who went above and beyond, both on and off the playing surfaces. Support staff such as athletic training and equipment management gave praises to their student workers. Alcorn State Athletics also took the time to recognize community members who are essential to the department's continued success.
Below is a complete list of award winners. Be sure to check out the event photo gallery located under Braves Zone.
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Brave Accolades: A Hollywood Soirée
Scene II: BRAVE Accolades: All-Star Spotlight Awards
1.
Outstanding Academic Achievement: Arene Iyekekpolar (Women's
Basketball) Lorenzo Garcia (Football)
2.
Community Champion (Individual): Jade Ceasar (Women's Track and Field)
Malachi Bailey (Football)
3.
Team Community Service Champion: (Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball,
Football, Volleyball, Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field)
4.
Best Dressed Red Carpet Attire:
5.
Fan Favorite Award: Kevin Firle "K3" (Men's Basketball)
6.
Spirit of the Game Award – Sportsmanship Award: Garrett Palladino
(Baseball) De'Aisha Davis (Women's Track and Field)
7.
Rising Star Award: Jamyiyah Cotton (Softball), Jaylon Lucky (Baseball)
8.
Unsung Hero Award: Paula Argelaguet (Soccer)
9.
Dynamic Duo Award: Jason Longcor & Noah Kiani (Football); Doaa
Mohamed & Oihane Villanueva-Lopez (Women's Tennis)
10.
Trailblazer Award: Kristin Edwards (Softball)
11.
Golden Glove Award (M/W category): Nakia Cheatham (Women's
Basketball), Michael Pajeaud (Men's Basketball)
12.
Record Breaker Award: Jeremiah Gambrell, Byron Joshua, Jalen Hawkins
(Men's Basketball)
13.
Best Comeback Athlete: Teresa Gallegos (Women's Track and Field), Tyler Smith
(Football)
14.
Breakthrough Performance: Tavarious Griffin (Football), Samara Nunn (Soccer)
15.
Best Rookie Performance: Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt (Men's Basketball), Hannah
Solomon (Volleyball)
16.
Best Female Athlete in a Leading Role: Destiny Brown
17.
Best Male Athlete in a Leading Role: Jarveon Howard
18.
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Teresa Gallegos
Golden Achievements
Lifetime Achievement Award (Former Brave): Harry Brown, Jr.
Coach of the Year: Coach Nate Kilbert
Team of the Year: Women's Basketball
Jazmine Jackson
Ashanti Backus
Nakia Cheatham
Nia McCalphia
Kailyn Watkins
Destiny Brown
Zy'Nyia White
Arene Iyekekpolar
Jeanee Anderson
Kiarra Henderson
Tyginae Wright
Maya Claytor
Milia Gibson
Akyriale Ford
Scene III: Brave Accolades: Elite Showcase Awards
Volleyball
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Makayla Wardlaw
Setter of the Year Award: Ramona Pulu
Offensive Player of the Year Award: Makayla Wardlaw
Defensive Player of the Year Award: Cayla Williams
Rookie of the Year Award: Hannah Solomon
Coach's Leadership Award: Demya Tate
Most Improved Player Award: Jalayah Hamby
Academic Excellence Award: Brooklyn Shook
Sportsmanship Award: Harmoni Carswell
Soccer
Golden Boot Award: Samara Nunn
Coach's Leadership Award: Jiselle Batres
Most Improved Player: Jailyn Ward
Goalkeeper of the Year: Paula Argelaguet
Academic Excellence Award: Natacia Ruiz
Men's & Women's Track & Field
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award:
Men: Kelvin Kipkemboi | Women: Teresa Gallegos
Sprinter of the Year Award:
Men: Trellas Forrest | Women: Brianna Wilson
Jumper of the Year Award:
Men: Jabri Jackson | Women: De'Aisha Davis
Thrower of the Year Award:
Men: Tyson Keys | Women: Destinee Lanham
Coach's Leadership Award:
Men: Arrington Robinson | Women: De'Aisha Davis
Most Improved Athlete Award:
Men: Kendrick Matthews | Women: Jasmine Ward
Academic Excellence Award:
Men: Amiri Franklin | Women: De'Aisha Davis
Sportsmanship Award:
Men: Johnny Holloway | Women: Jade Ceasar
Men's & Women's Cross Country
Most Valuable Runner (MVR) Award:
Men: Kelvin Kipkemboi | Women: Stella Kiptue
Rookie of the Year Award:
Men: Alocias Kipngetich | Women: Teresa Gallegos
Most Improved Runner Award:
Men: Terrell White | Women: Nicole Kells
Academic Excellence Award:
Men: Bethwel Limo | Women: Samouya Nevers
Sportsmanship Award:
Men: Bethwel Limo | Women: Samouya Never
Men's & Women's Tennis
Player of the Year Award: Men: Nikola Kijac | Women: Doaa Mohamed
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Men: Yangho Park | Women: Doaa Mohamed
Doubles Team of the Year Award: Men: Emmanuel Cottle & Nikola Kijac
Women: Doaa Mohamed & Oihane Villanueva Lopez
Rookie of the Year Award: Men: Yangho Park | Women: Oihane Villanueva Lopez
Coach's Leadership Award: Men: Luka Andonov | Women: Zoe Crimmel
Most Improved Player Award: Men: Emmanuel Cottle | Women: Oihane Villanueva
Lopez
Academic Excellence Award: Men: Yangho Park | Women: Doaa Mohamed
Sportsmanship Award: Men: Yangho Park | Women: Oihane Villanueva Lopez
Softball
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Kristian Edwards
Pitcher of the Year Award: Kiri Parker
Offensive Player of the Year Award: Kristian Edwards
Defensive Player of the Year Award: Jamyiyah Cotten
Rookie of the Year Award: Olivia Miller
Coach's Leadership Award: Genise Wells
Most Improved Player Award: Paris Thompson
Academic Excellence Award: Hannah Miller, Ashanti Carter
Sportsmanship Award: Genise Wells
Baseball
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Garrett Palladino
Pitcher of the Year Award: Kewan Braziel
Offensive Player of the Year Award: Kalum Banks
Defensive Player of the Year Award: Garrett Palladino
Rookie of the Year Award: Andres Chirinos
Coach's Leadership Award: Guershon Exi
Most Improved Player Award: Rayfield Adams
Academic Excellence Award: Mason Duke
Women's Basketball
Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award: Destiny Brown
Defensive Player of the Year: Nakia Cheatham
Offensive Player of the Year: Zy'nyia White
Rookie/Newcomer of the Year: Arene Iyekekpolor
Sixth Man of the Year: Kiarra Henderson
Coach's Leadership Award: Tyginae Wright
Most Improved Player: Nia McCalphia
Outstanding Sportsmanship Award: Tyginae Wright
Academic Excellence Award: Kailyn Watkins
Best Rebounder Award: Nakia Cheatham
Men's Basketball
Defensive Player of the Year: Byron Joshua
Offensive Player of the Year: Jeremiah Kendall
Rookie of the Year: Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt
Sixth Man of the Year: Dekedran Thorn
Coach's Leadership Award: Dekedran Thorn
Most Improved Player: Michael Pajeaud
Outstanding Sportsmanship Award: Alex Tsynkevich
Academic Excellence Award: Alex Tsynkevich
Football
Coach's Leadership Award: Aaron Allen
Outstanding Sportsmanship Award: Devin Dawson
Dedication and Commitment Award: Tyler Smith
MVP (Most Valuable Player): Jarveon Howard
Rookie of the Year Award: Kayvon Henderson
Excellence in Academics Award: Kole Williams
Defensive Player of the Year: Malachi Bailey
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Allen
Specialist of the Year: Noah Kiani
Cheerleaders
Stellar Showmanship Award: Ceven Kidd, Angel Jones, and J'la Jones
Gold Carpet Ready Routine: Kyla Proby & Kennedi Fitzgerald
Blockbuster Pyramid Award: Jacenta Davis & Rogers Wesley
Golden Pom-Pom Award: Kennedi Fitzgerald
Most Spirited Cheerleader: Jacenta Davis
Cheer Athlete of the Year: Male: Rogers Wesley | Female: J'la Jones
Sports Medicine
Outstanding Caregiver Award: Madison P. Thomas
Leadership in Training Award: Camron R. Sims
Rookie of the Year Award: Makiya Lynch
Academic Excellence Award: Roy Lee
Equipment Managers
Equipment Excellence Award: De'Andre Brown
Teamwork Triumph Award: Kameron January
Innovation in Equipment Management: Tatyana Hollingbird
Academic Excellence Award: Tatyana Hollingbird
Scene IV: Brave Accolades: All-Star Spotlight Awards
Brave Influencer: Social Media MVP: Milia Gibson; Kiarra Magee; Kenaysia
Stanton
Braves Snapshot Pioneer Award: Al Johnson
Braves Lens Legends: Cedric Tillman, Mike Jones, James Cistrunk, and Larry
Hubbard
Braves Golden Microphone Award: Charles Edmond
Brave Spirit Award – Ultimate Fan Dedication: Barney Rankin
Brave Legend Award – Honoring Excellence in Athletic Legacy: Shirley Walker
& Fred McNair & Steve McNair
