CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Elizabeth City State University was well represented during the 2026 CIAA Membership Awards Luncheon held last week in Charlotte, as Viking student-athletes and administrators earned several prestigious conference honors during the CIAA Spring Meetings.
The annual luncheon recognized outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, leadership, and service across the conference during the 2025-26 academic year. ECSU was among the conference leaders in award recognition, highlighted by honors for student leadership and athletic administration.
Leading the way for the Vikings, ECSU Director of Athletics James DuBose Jr. received the prestigious CIAA Jeanette Lee Award, recognizing his servant leadership, guidance, and commitment to advancing the conference during a period of growth and transition.
Elizabeth City State also celebrated a major administrative honor as LaTaya Hilliard-Gray was named the 2026 CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year for her leadership, advocacy, and continued service to student-athletes and collegiate athletics. This was the third time in four years that Deputy Gray has won the award.
The Vikings were additionally recognized for their impact in student-athlete leadership through the CIAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). ECSU student-athletes Darius Satterfield and Camdyn Peck were honored as recipients of the 2026 CIAA SAAC Executive Board Student Service Awards for their work supporting conference-wide initiatives throughout the academic year.
The SAAC Executive Board helped lead several major initiatives across the conference, including the inaugural CIAA Unity Walk, the Literacy and Friends Circle Championship, and the expansion of the Literacy and Friends Leadership Challenge, all designed to enhance student-athlete engagement and leadership development.
ECSU also saw representation among the conference's postgraduate scholarship recipients as Janiah Beech earned the 2026 Eric Moore Postgraduate Scholarship, presented in collaboration with the McLendon Foundation. The scholarship supports graduating student-athletes pursuing advanced degrees in athletics, sports administration, sports medicine, and media relations
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The 2026 CIAA Membership Awards Luncheon was held as part of the conference's annual Spring Meetings and celebrated the accomplishments of member institutions and individuals who continue to uphold the legacy and mission of the CIAA through excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, and community impact.
