ITTA BENA – The Mississippi Valley State University Athletics Department honored its student-athletes during the annual Athletics Banquet, held in the Charles Lackey Recreational Center on Thursday, April 28^th. 

In addition to the student-athletes, Dr. Garfield Burke was honored for his 12 years of dedication to the athletic department as the Faculty Athletic Representative.  During the program, a video presentation prepared by Zotorious Productions of Texas, served as a feature of the 2015-16 athletic year. The Mississippi Valley State soccer team was presented with special awards for their athletic achievements during their season.

The graduating seniors of each program were honored for their matriculation and milestone triumph.

Soccer's Haley Hendricks & Heather Craddock and football's LeRandal Allen received the President's Award for Academic Excellence for earning and maintaining the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA).  Shani Jefferson (soccer) and Isaac Williams (men's basketball) were selected as the Athletic Director's Sportsmanship recipients, while Laadi Issaka (soccer) and Booker T. Chambers (football) received the Athletic Director's Rookies of the Year. Nykosi Simmons (soccer) and Marquis Green (football) were bestowed the honor of the Athletic Director's Athlete of the Year.  

The MVSU women's soccer and baseball teams received the award for the highest GPA award.

Team MVP
Nykosi Simmons (Women's Soccer)
Toussaint Brock (Men's Golf)
Shelley Hanley (Women's Golf)
Christina Reed (Women's Basketball)
Marcus Romain (Men's Basketball)
Kalin Barnes (Volleyball)
Arrington Smith (Baseball)
Aaron Albert (Men's Cross Country and Men's Indoor Track & Field)
Sierra McGinnis (Women's Cross Country)
Najee Green (Women's Indoor Track & Field)
Booker T. Chambers (Football - Offensive)
LeTrey Jones (Football - Defensive)
Booker T. Chambers (Football - Special Teams)
Deja Talton (Softball)
Faith Mitchell (Cheerleading)
 

Academic Award
Haley Hendricks (Soccer)
Keyanna Winder (Women's Golf)
Theodore Johnson (Men's Golf)
Chelsea Tate (Women's Basketball)
Isaac Williams (Men's Basketball)
Brianna Watkins (Volleyball)
Brianna Johnson (Softball)
Drew Wheeler (Baseball)
Eric Chism (Men's Cross Country and Men's Indoor Track & Field)
Najee Green (Women's Cross Country and Women's Indoor Track & Field)
LeRandel Allen (Football)
Joshua Hurssey (Cheerleading)

President's Award of Academic Excellence
Haley Hendricks & Heather Craddock (Soccer)
LeRandel Allen (Football)

Athletic Director's Sportsmanship Award
Shani Jefferson (Soccer)
Isaac Williams (Men's Basketball)

Athletic Director's Rookie of the Year Award
Laadi Issaka (Soccer)
Booker T. Chambers (Football)

Athletic Director's Athlete of the Year
Nykosi Simmons (Soccer)
Marquis Green (Football)
 
Most Improved or Unsung Hero Awards
Mariana Balbao (Soccer)
Keyanna Winder (Women's Golf)
James Johnson (Men's Golf)
Feleshia Walters (Women's Basketball)
Isaac Williams (Men's Basketball)
Brooklyn Hudson (Volleyball)
Anna Sanchez (Softball)
Alex Bravo (Baseball)
Kedeidre Holiday (Women's Cross Country)
Brandon Damon (Men's Cross Country)
Amanda Murray (Women's Indoor Track & Field)
Eric Chism (Men's Indoor Track & Field)
Trevin Wallace (Football – Offensive)
Ladrelin Cheatam (Football – Defensive)
Quantavius Peterson (Football – Special Teams)
Cayla Freeman (Cheerleading)
Tammesha Culbreath (Student Trainer)
 
Newcomer or Rookie of the Year Awards
Laadi Issaka (Soccer)
Jailynn May (Women's Golf)
Javarione Bryant (Men's Golf)
Zemoria Jernigan (Women's Basketball)
Kylan Phillips (Men's Basketball)
Marissa Chalmers (Volleyball)
Kailyn Dunn (Softball)
Drew Wheeler (Baseball)
Keyia Green (Women's Cross Country)
Keith Terry (Men's Cross Country and Men's Indoor Track & Field)
Terra Edwards (Women's Indoor Track & Field)
Thomas Stokes, Jr. (Football – Offensive)
Marquis Green (Football – Defensive)
Booker T. Chambers (Football - Special Teams)
Robert Walton (Cheerleading)