May 21, 2008

Four Johnson C. Smith University student-athletes have been named to the 2008 CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic Team. Senior Jennifer Lee (Charlotte, N.C.), juniors Brittany Laws (Rocky Mount, N.C.) and Carlton Richardson (Columbia, S.C.) as well as sophomore Jason Stuckey (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Lee was selected to the first team and was the salutatorian of 2008 graduating class, graduating with a 3.79 grade point average. She was named All-CIAA and posted a 13-8 overall record. She was a perpetual member of the Dean's List and President's List. She was also a Duke Scholar, JCSU's MVP of women's tennis and a three-year president of Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Laws, another member of the women's tennis team, was selected to the second team. She possesses a 3.9 grade point average, double majoring in English and Spanish. She is also a faithful member of the Dean's List and received the Coca-Cola Academic Award given to the female student-athlete with the highest grade point average.

Richardson, a rising senior from Columbia, S.C. was the only football player named to the first team. He ranks among the CIAA's best in several categories: 2nd in passing average per game (166.8 ypg), 2nd in total offense (200.4 ypg), and 2nd in passing efficiency (115.5). He passed for 1,668 yards good for second in the conference and rushed for 336 yards for a total of 2,004 yards and 13 touchdowns... He possesses a 3.5 grade point average, is the vice-president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, member of the Dean's List and a recipient of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Endowed Scholarship.

Stuckey, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio boasts a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He was named All-CIAA and posted a 12-10 overall record. The team finished runners-up at the 2008 CIAA Men's Tennis Championship. Stuckey is a perpetual member of the Dean's List and President's List, was named JCSU's MVP of Men's Tennis, garnered the Coca-Cola Academic Award given to student-athlete with the highest grade point average, a recipient of the Dr. Jack S. Brayboy Endowed Scholarship for Scholar-Athletes and is a Duke Scholar.

This year the team recognizes 22 student-athletes, 10 on the First and Second Teams while two were designated as Honorable Mentions. For the first time in its 11-year history, the team, which is voted on by the CIAA-Sports Information Director's Association, shows an even balance- with both the First and Second team honorees averaging a 3.620 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).

"It is gratifying to celebrate the accomplishments of this year's team. These student-athletes have truly realized the success that can be attained by finding the balance between their academic studies and athletic participation," commented Commissioner Leon Kerry.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have completed one full academic year at a CIAA institution, earned a minimum 3.20 overall grade point average and excelled as a starter or significant reserve in a CIAA sanctioned sport