RICHMOND, VA (May 16, 2023) - The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) held its annual Spring General Assembly meeting and end-of-year awards reception in Richmond, VA. The conference office announced its highest administrative and team awards at the reception on Tuesday afternoon.

Elizabeth City State University's own Lataya Hilliard-Gray was voted by her peers as the CIAA Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) of the Year. Hilliard-Gray just completed her first year as Deputy Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator/Deputy Title IX Coordinator. 

She will assist with the overall oversight of the Vikings Athletic Department, while also serving as the highest-ranking female in the department promoting meaningful representation of women in the leadership and management of ECSU Athletics. As SWA, she assists with policies and procedures for the ECSU athletic department to achieve the parallel goals of developing quality, competitive athletics teams, and support of the individual educational goals of student-athletes.

"It is indeed a pleasure to be acknowledged and celebrated as the 2022-2023 CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year. I like to believe that I have grown into the designation over the last nine years and it is heartwarming to know that my colleagues within the conference see my efforts. Our roles and responsibilities as SWAs particularly in the CIAA are led by collaboration and I am excited to continue this work with a great group of women that hold the position on their respective campus." Hilliard-Gray, said on Tuesday morning.

Alexis McNair of Virginia State University was selected as the 2022-2023 CIAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year while Darrick McLean of Winston-Salem State University was voted as the CIAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Fayetteville State University's Anthony Bennett was named CIAA Athletic Director of the Year for the second straight year.  

Johnson C. Smith University's Stephen Joyner Sr. received the Jeanette Lee Athletic Administrator of the Year.

Antoine Lynch of Shaw University was named CIAA John Holley Sports Information Director (SID) of the Year.  

Virginia State University won the C.H. Williams Men's All-Sports Award while Fayetteville State University won the Loretta Taylor Women's All-Sports Award. Both recognitions are awarded annually to the CIAA institution with the top men's and women's athletic programs based on a points system.

The Bowie State University athletic department was recognized with the award of Most Positive Game Environment. Selected by members of the CIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the award is given to the school that exhibits good sportsmanship by student-athletes and coaches during both home and away contests.