May. 27, 2003

May 27, 2003 - Hampton, VA - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the recipients of the Male and Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award for the 2002-03 academic year. The award winners were announced to be Christopher Lee of Johnson C. Smith University and Benita Wicker of Winston-Salem State University. This honor, in its second year, rewards student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom and in the athletic arena.

For the second consecutive year, a WSSU student-athlete has garnered this award, as Aaron Federspiel, a recent graduate of WSSU and a football player was awarded the male award last season for his athletic and academic achievements.

Christopher Lee, a Senior Communications Art Major from Charlotte, NC is a member of the Johnson C. Smith Tennis Team. Lee has led JCSU to three consecutive CIAA Championships from 2001-2003 and NCAA Playoff berths the past two years. He is a three-time All-CIAA selectee and was named CIAA Tennis Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2002 and 2003.

In 2003, Lee compiled a 14-7 overall and 13-0 conference singles record. In doubles, Lee amassed an 18-4 overall and 14-0 conference record. Lee is also a UNCF Scholarship Recipient and Academic Achievement Award Winner at JCSU. He has a 3.47 grade point average.

Benita Wicker, a Sophomore Biology Major from Durham, NC is a member of the Winston-Salem State Volleyball Team. Wicker was a member of the Lady Ram team that advanced to the CIAA Volleyball Championship Semifinals. In 2002, she contributed five kills and assists, 101 digs and 22 service aces to the Lady Rams. WSSUs 19-12 overall and 13-5 CIAA record was the best in school history. Wicker is a 2003 WSSU Chancellors Cup Award Winner and a Chancellors Cup Scholar for her WSSU-leading grade point average. She has a 3.941 grade point average.

Both Lee and Wicker will represent the CIAA as nominees for the Division II Conference Commissioners South Atlantic Region Scholar-Athlete of the Year and will be recognized at the 2003 CIA Spring Awards Luncheon on May 29, 2003.

Commenting on the honor that Wicker was presented, Head Volleyball Coach and WSSU Asst. Director of Athletics, Tonia Walker said the following: "We are extremely proud of Benita's selection as the CIAA Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. It surely emphasizes the importance of academics - a key point that is always stressed in the athletics programs at Winston-Salem State University. I am elated that Benita gets this recognition, which allows her to realize that all of her hard work does not go unnoticed. This type of recognition in my opinion shines brighter than any other award that student-athletes can receive, and only further emphasizes the operational theme of the WSSU Department of Athletics for 2003-04, which is "Why Be Ordinary, Be Extraordinary, Expect More," which is something that Benita has done time and time again."