COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College athletic department honored its student-athletes at its annual athletic awards banquet on Wednesday afternoon.
 
A pair of standout athletes received the John E. Brown Award, Benedict's top student-athlete award. The award is named after the former legendary coach and athletic director who spent 32 years serving Benedict College, where he coached football, baseball and basketball for the Tigers. This award is given to the most outstanding student-athlete.
 
A pair of standout track and field athletes were this year's recipients – Zack Washington and Yassmine Chambers.
 
Washington won the SIAC Indoor track & field meet in the long jump, triple jump and high jump, and was named field event MVP. He also set a new Benedict College record in the long jump on his way to winning the inaugural HBCU National Indoor Track & Field Championship.
 
At the SIAC Outdoor Championship held last week, Washington won the long jump and high jump, and finished eighth in his first time competing in the javelin throw and was named the field event MVP. He is currently ranked 18th in Division II in the long jump.
 
Chambers won the SIAC Indoor Track & Field Championship in the weight throw and shot put, and was named field event MVP. She also set a new Benedict College record in both the shot and weight on her way to winning the inaugural HBCU National Indoor Track & Field Championships in both events.
 
At the SIAC Outdoor Championships, she finished second in the discus, third in the shot put, and seventh in the hammer throw.
 
The Lucius F. Clark Champion of Character Award was presented to men's track and field standout Chase Ransom. The award is named after the former coach who resurrected the Benedict golf program and is given to any student-athlete who has shown outstanding character and has brought national exposure to the college and athletic program. The recipient also has provided leadership within their sport area, and has shown dedication to help other student-athletes grow.
 
Ransom won the gold medal in both the hammer throw and the discus throw at the 2025 SIAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship. He set a personal best record this season in the hammer throw, and set indoor records in the discus and weight throw.
 
The winner of the Jimmy Green Memorial Inspiration Award was women's track and field standout Jada David. The award is named in honor of one of Benedict's outstanding football alumni, and is presented to a student-athlete who has been confronted with life-altering experiences and has utilized perseverance, dedication, and determination to overcome the event. This award is presented in recognition of Mr. Green's dedication and commitment to Benedict College.
 
Last year during the indoor season in the first meet of the season, David experienced a season end injury that required surgery. She missed both the indoor and outdoor seasons. While mentally, physically and emotionally challenged by this injury, David decided to use this setback to come back. She worked extremely hard to get back on track. This season, she set the Benedict College record in the triple jump, won the SIAC indoor championship and HBCU indoor national championship in the triple jump. At the SIAC outdoor championship, she won the triple jump and was third in the long jump, and currently ranks 13th in the nation in the triple jump.
 
The Dr. David H. Swinton Power For Good Award, presented to a student-athlete who demonstrates leadership, hard work and determination, community service, and academic achievement, was presented to men's tennis player Divgurjot Singh. Singh is an All-Conference tennis player who has been named the SIAC's Elite 14 winner in 2024 and Elite 16 winner in 2025.
 
The department also recognized 12 student-athletes with a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA, as well as 160 student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA or higher. GPAs are through the fall 2024 term.
 
The National Booster Club presented its special awards to Benedict baseball coach Selwyn Young for winning his 300^th game as coach at Benedict this season, as well as track and field coach Danny Brooks. The Booster Club also presented the school with a donation of $10,000 to be used for scholarships.
 
The Benedict Booster Club Individual of the Year Award went to Curtis Wilson.
 
Team individual awards:
 
Baseball
MVP - Juan Guardado
Best Offensive - Isaiah Canty
Best Pitcher - Brailin Duran
Best Utility Man - Justin Murray
 
Cheerleaders
Outstanding Senior Cheerleader – Zoe Jackson
Most Improved All-Around – Grace Smith
Most Improved Stunt Flyer – Raina Carden
Best Newcomer for Cheer – Jana Chestnut
 
Men's Basketball
Most Improved – Donte Whymns
Sportsmanship – Cadarius Baggett
MVP – Caleb Hymon
Leadership - Khalil Campbell
 
Women's Basketball
Most Athletic – Raven Johnson
Best All-Around – Taylor Christmas
Best Newcomer – Ciara Hardy
Best Defensive Player – Alaysia Nash
Leadership Award – Kaya Evans
 
Men's Volleyball
Defensive Player of the Year – Cameron Long
Most Improved – Jared Brown
Best Hustler – Kendersley Marcellin
Best All-Around – Zion Beckford
Coaches Award – Hakan Godoy
 
Women's Volleyball
Best Offensive Player – T'yannah Lake
Best Defensive Player – Brandi Seaborn
MVP – Desire Young
Coaches Award – Willow Alls
 
Softball
Most Improved – Shamaria Dupree
Offensive MVP – Megan Blanks
MVP – Savanna Marshall
Defensive MVP – Heaven Strickland
 
Men's Tennis
MVP- Divgurjot Singh
Sportsmanship Award - Jason Chigaazira
Best All Around - Anesu Kwirirai
Most Improved - Munache Marume
 
Women's Tennis
MVP - Valerie Essome
Sportsmanship Award - Patricia Wamba
Best All Around - Tanatswa Musabaeka
Most Improved- Carmen Kpadonou
Freshman of the Year – Carmen Kpadonou
 
Football
Iron Tiger Award – Ty'Metrius Patterson
Impact Player Award – Aaron Miller
Offensive Player of the Year – Troy Hillman
Defensive Player of the Year – Israel Nwokocha
VISION Award – Isaiah Stephens
Tiger Award – Thomas Hardin
Special Teams Player of the Year – Jaxon Williams
Leroy T. Walker Award – Jaxon Williams
 
Women's Cross Country
MVP Women – Mercy Kwambai
Eye of the Tiger Woman - Megan Thompson
Most Improved Woman - Kaya Evans
 
Men's Cross Country
MVP - Kelvin Kiprop
Eye of the Tiger - Nelson Kipkemboi
Most improved - Sadiki Marsh
 
Women's Indoor Track & Field:
Field MVP Women – Yassmine Chambers
Track MVP Women – Santiona Freeman
Eye of the Tiger Women – Jada David
Most Improved Women – Daneika Williamson
 
Men's Indoor Track & Field
Track MVP Men – Darian Clarke
Field MVP Men – Zack Washington
Eye of the Tiger Men – Chase Ransom
Most Improved Men Matthew Paul
 
Women's Outdoor Track & Field
Field MVP Women – Jada David
Track MVP Women - Santiona Freeman
Eye of the Tiger Woman – Yassmine Chambers
Most Improved Women - Paris Stanton
Newcomer of the Year – Aniya Housel
 
Men's Outdoor Track & Field
Field MVP Men – Zack Washington
Track MVP Men – Darian Clarke
Eye of the Tiger Men – Chase Ransom
Most Improved Men - Morris Walker
Newcomer of the Year – Terrel Alexander

4.0 GPA
Shantel Williams - Women's Track & Field
Daneika Williamson - Women's Track & Field
Aliyah Jones - Women's Volleyball
Javel Best - Track & Field
Bobby Anderson - Football
Thomas Hardin - Football
Josh Modupe - Football 
Jordan West - Football 
Jaxon Williams - Football
Jacob Holmes - Football
Cameron Long - Men's Volleyball
Kayla Fisher - Women's Basketball
 
3.0 – 3.9 GPA
Baseball
Yosmill Diaz
Carson Fellows
Nicholas Gioia
Jacob Hall
Jalen Hudson
Kent Johnson
Jayden Jordan
Jamell Mitchell Jr.
Justin Murray
Jonathan Olmedo
Ri'shon Pearl
Gerson Vidal Cordero
Demetrous Warren
Donnie Weston
Shane Williams
 
Men's Basketball:
Benjamin Agwu Eme
Khalil Campbell
Cehki Hill
 
Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
William Fennoy
Andy Ferguson
Quincy Harris
Nelson Kipkemboi
Kelvin Kiprop
Sadiki Marsh
Jacobie Sims
Terrel Alexander
Darian Clarke
Tyquan Grissett
Jeremiah Hall-Jones
Korey Huff
Jayden Jones
Chase Ransom
David Smith
JaQuon Tinch
Morris Walker

Football
Ali Abdul-Hakeem
Marquavis Bacote
Darius Baker
Kasey Bolton
Bryce Bowens
Roderick Brown
La'Bron Cobb
Markell Davis
Orlando Dean
Matthew Draper
Daryl Dunifer
A'chean Durant
Eliyah El
Maliq Eubanks
Zavien Foster
Marcus French
Komari Frye
Zach Gibson
Tywun Gordon
Troy Hillman
Mathew Ihemesie
Isaiah Isidore
Jackson Jensen
NaShon Johnson
Malaqhi Jones
Nolan Jones
Dakota Jordan
Kyan Kennedy
Marcelous Livingston
Dominic Mathis
Malcolm Meristil
Jason Miller
Aaron Miller
Damien Moate Jr.
Thomas Morgan
Taylen Morrow
Malik Mullins
Israel Nwokocha
LaJuan Pauling
Caleb Pearso
Ryan Perry
Taylor Richardson
Caleb Riggs
Jalen Rogers
Charles "Tre" Simmons
Azian-Antonio Santiago-Simpson
Curtis Smiley
David Smith
Jaylen Taylor
Omari Terry
Jeremiah Thomas
Desmond Thompson Jr.
Robert Thompson
Rodney Vines
Jason Watson
Mason White
Javarrius Wilson
Lucas Wynn
Javontae Yarbrough
 
Men's Tennis
Jason Chigaazira
Ladarius Johnson
Anesu Kwirirai
Munache Marume
Divgurjot Singh
 
Men's Volleyball
Hakan Godoy
Jomari Jacobs
Kendersley Marcellin
Camron Petillo
 
Women's Basketball
Liyah Allen
Nyree Bell
Taylor Christmas
Kaya Evans
Ciara Hardy
Kayla Horton
Christyonna Jackson
Shaniya Jackson
Aaliyah Lawrence
Nya Marseille
Alaysia Nash
Karrington Sutton
Jordan Tanksley
Ahminah Taylor
Taiyee Treasure
 
Woman's Cross Country and Track & Field
Kaciann Cowan
Jamescenia Favor
Lydia Kosgei
Mercy Kwambai
Kanesha Moses
Kiara Scott
Megan Thompson
Xaria Bascombe
Yassmine Chambers
Adrienne Daniels
Jada David
Santiona Freeman
BreAshia Lester
Joslynn Moultrie
Karma Moultrie
 
Softball
Megan Blanks
Jasmine Cadore
Cayla Crooks
Ariana Ellis
Kierra Evans
Taylor Gilbert
Chelsey Gotel
Hillary Haynes
T'yannah Lake
Savanna Marshall
Mikaila Rodgers
 
Woman's Tennis
Valerie Essome
Carmen Kpadonou
Tanatswa Musabaeka
 
Woman's Volleyball
Willow Alls
Angelic Carter
Kaiah Green
Kennedi Hill
Kylie Jackson
DeMyah Jackson
T'yannah Lake
Jadyn Murry
Brandi Seaborn
Jordan Williams
La'Jai Wilson
Desire' Young