May 10, 2005

Winston-Salem, NC - At the conclusion of the 2005 Winston-Salem State University Athletic Awards banquet on Wednesday evening, it was no surprise to the several hundred attendees, that Shannon Davis and Darnell Gregory were named the female and male Student-Athletes of the Year for their performance over the last academic calendar year.

Davis, a two-sport standout on the WSSU women's bowling and softball teams, was named the Female Student-Athlete of the Year. A senior from Detroit, MI, Davis appeared in, and started, all 34 games for the Lady Rams on the softball diamond this season as she occupied dual roles as a starting pitcher and catcher. She batted .247 on the season with 21 hits and 28 RBI's. She posted a 9-14 record for the Lady Rams on the mound with an 11.88 ERA while recording 23 complete games en route to pitching 156.0 innings. She also bowled in all of the women's bowling matches as WSSU amassed a 54-11 overall record and earned a CIAA Western Division regular-season championship. She holds the Presidency of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at WSSU in addition to being a three-time All-CIAA performer in softball and a one-time All-CIAA bowler. A two-time member of the CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team, she possesses a 3.736 grade-point average as a Sport Management major at WSSU.

Darnell Gregory (Pictured) Was Named The WSSU Student-Athlete Of The Year For 2005

Gregory, a junior member of the WSSU men's basketball team was named the Male Athlete of the Year as he appeared in all 30 games for the Rams, starting 29 of them. He helped to lead WSSU to a 22-8 overall record this past season as the Rams earned their first CIAA Western Division regular-season title since 2000 and yet another NCAA Tournament berth. He averaged 5.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game this past season, shooting 51.9% from the floor and 73.7% from the free-throw line. A Molecular Biology major with a 3.683 grade point average, Gregory is the Vice-President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He is a two-year starter for the Rams and is an active member in the Winston-Salem Community. He will attend dental school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill following his graduation next year.

The athletic banquet, held in the Grand Ballroom of the Adam's Mark, Winston-Salem, was a smashing success as R. Guy Vickers, President of the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation Foundation served as the keynote speaker. Vickers, a former standout college athlete delivered a poignant message to the student-athletes on the importance of teamwork, determination and focus in not only athletics and business, but life.

WSSU Associate Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker, who served as the banquet's coordinator and organizer, spoke about the success of the banquet following it's conclusion:

"This year's banquet was another all-around success. From the choice of the location, to the menu, it was an event to remember as we recognized our student-athletes, and said goodbye to our seniors in style. Mr. Vickers took the banquet to the next level as he delivered a message that struck a chord with our athletes and allowed them to relate to his message on a personal level. We are truly indebted to Mr. Vickers and the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation for their support of WSSU Athletics."

For additional information on WSSU Athletics, or to arrange and interview with Davis or Gregory, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143.

The complete list of WSSU Athletic Banquet Award winners can be accessed at the following link: CLICK HERE