Student Athlete
NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month: Mia RamicTennis Senior Unbeaten on the Court; Heading to Law School after Graduation
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University women’s tennis senior Mia Ramic has been named the NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month for March 2016 in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments on the court and in the classroom.
A native of Split, Croatia, Ramic posted a perfect 6-0 singles record during the month of March. She was 4-0 with two three-set battles at the No. 3 singles position, and closed out the month 2-0 with a pair of tie-breaker thrillers at the No. 2 spot.
Ramic boasts a 3.76 overall grade point average as a political science major and writing minor at NCCU. A dean’s list student, she earned an unblemished 4.0 GPA in each of her past two semesters. Ramic was also the recipient of the Outstanding International Affairs Student Award from the Department of Political Science in 2015.
After graduating from NCCU in May, Ramic will be attending the School of Law at Queen Mary University of London, starting in September.
Hawks post the best mark in the league for eighth straight year.
G. STAN BRADLEY
PRINCESS ANNE, Md.—Director of Athletics Keith Davidson is already looking forward to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) summer meetings. That is because in June, Davidson will collect Maryland Eastern Shore’s eighth straight award for producing the highest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in the league.
Previous years have seen Davidson bring home a $25,000.00 check from the conference for his department for the accolade.
Last week the NCAA released its latest graduation success rate figures and while the Hawks rate was lower than the previous year, it still ranks first among all 13 conference schools, and is the only one at 80 percent or above.
The Hawks posted an 81 percent for the 15-16 year, a collection of the 2006-2009 cohort. Rival Delaware State posted a 77 percent rate, the second highest in the league while Howard and North Carolina Central both had a 75 percent GSR.
Among Maryland state schools, Eastern Shore was third, falling just behind Maryland and Towson who posted 85 and 84 percent respectively. The Hawks bettered UMBC, Coppin State and Morgan State.
The GSR measures graduation rates at Division I institutions as well as those transferring into those schools, according to the NCAA. The rate was created to reflect mobility of college students in graduation data.
“I am so very proud of this accomplishment,” said Davidson. “After all, this exemplifies what we do in athletics. We prepare student-athletes for life after their collegiate competition days are over. We help give them the values they need to be successful in multiple facets of life.”
In the most recent data, seven of the Hawks’ 14 teams earned a perfect score of 100 in the GSR, with men’s basketball, women’s bowling, women’s tennis, women’s volleyball and women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. Softball posted an 88 percent rate in that period.
Below are Eastern Shore’s results from the previous twelve years in descending order:
2006-09, 81-percent; 2005-08, 88-percent; 2004-07, 88-percent; 2003-06, 89-percent; 2002-05, 89-percent; 2001-04, 90-percent; 2000-03, 84-percent; 1999-02, 77-percent; 1998-01, 78-percent; 1997-00, 79-percent; 1996-99, 84-percnet; 1995-98, 92-percent
Maryland Eastern Shore has averaged an overall GSR of 85 percent in that 12-year period.
“This announcement is also a tribute to our academic program here in athletics and to our coaches. We are recruiting, retaining and graduating quality student-athletes. There is nothing better for us to be evaluated on,” Davidson added.
#OurShoreOurTeam
Carl Jones Represents NCCU on Esteemed
Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®September 15, 2016
NORTHBROOK, Ill. – North Carolina Central University redshirt-senior center Carl Jones is one of the 24 college football players and one honorary head coach named to the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, one of the most coveted off-the-field honors in college football, Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced on Thursday.
The Good Works Team® award is celebrating 25 years of recognizing college football players who dedicate their time to bettering the community and the lives of others.
A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Jones was selected to the 2015 All-MEAC First Team as the league's top center and was announced to the BOXTOROW (HBCU) All-America Team, HBCU Gameday FCS All-American Team and the Black College Sports Page "Baad Team" of Black College All-Americans (First Team).
Off the field, Jones was voted to 2015 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District™ Football Team as Division I First-Team honoree in District III (North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia). He was also selected as a finalist for the STATS Doris & Eddie Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, recognizing an FCS student-athlete who excels not only on the field and in the classroom, but in the community and beyond.
He graduated from NCCU in May with an overall grade point average of 3.63 and bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in athletic administration. The team captain also serves as a representative on NCCU Football Leadership Council and President of the NCCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Jones is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc., Research Triangle Park Chapter; the North Carolina Association of CPA's (student member); the Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society; the Centennial Scholars Program; the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.-Tau Psi Chapter; and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as a Huddle Leader.
Among his numerous community service activities, Jones is a mentor at the Durham Boys & Girls Club and is a frequent speaker and reader at local elementary and middle schools.
“We are extremely proud of Carl for his achievements both on and off the field,” said NCCU football head coach Jerry Mack. “He continues to be an outstanding role model, not just for our student-athletes, but all student-athletes across the country.”
This year, in recognition of the 25th anniversary, Allstate and the AFCA added three additional spots to the team, including an honorary head coach, bringing the final roster to 25 members. Amidst the rivalry, competitiveness and excitement of college football, the contributions made off the field by players and coaches can often times be overlooked. The players named to the Good Works Team® represent the sport's finest in terms of character and leadership, in addition to maintaining good academic standing. To help announce the landmark year of the Good Works Team®, Allstate and the AFCA have also teamed up with two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner and 2009 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® member Tim Tebow.
“Allstate has taken great pride in working with the AFCA to recognize student-athletes who go above and beyond to make time for community service, whether they’re helping out at a local soup kitchen or going abroad on a mission trip,” said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® voting panel. “These young men deserve to be commended for all that they do, and their character and commitment to service is an inspiration for all of us.”
NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month:
Gabriel CucalonMen’s Tennis Sophomore Wins HBCU Singles Title, Boasts 3.67 Overall GPA
Kyle E. Serba
DURHAM, N.C. – North Carolina Central University men’s tennis sophomore Gabriel Cucalon has been named the NCCU Student-Athlete of the Month for September 2016 in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments on the court, in the classroom and in the community.
A native of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Cucalon won his first eight singles matches of the fall season to capture a pair of titles in September.
He opened the month winning four consecutive straight-set matches to win the B Singles Flight at the UNC Wilmington Seahawk Fall Invitational.
The following weekend, Cucalon, an unseeded competitor in the 25-player top singles bracket, knocked off four consecutive seeded players to capture the A Flight title at the HBCU National Championships.
The Eagles’ reigning Team MVP serves as team captain, is a representative of the NCCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and a member of NCCU Athletics Director’s Captains Council.
He boasts an overall grade point average of 3.67, majoring in marketing. After pursuing his goal of becoming a professional tennis player, he plans to either stay in the United States or go to Italy (his second nationality) for a career in business.
For a complete list of award winners, visit www.NCCUEaglePride.com.