THE HILL | The Alabama A&M University Department of Athletics celebrated the academic and athletic achievements during the 2024-25 academic year on Monday night with the 11^th Annual B.E.S.T. Awards at the AAMU Event Center.
 
Athletic award winners were nominated by coaches and chosen by a selection committee made up of athletic staff members from various departments. Academic awards were nominated by academic advisors and winners were chosen by the entire athletic administration and staff.
 
The evening included remarks from Alabama A&M President Dr. Daniel K. Wims and Director of Athletics Dr.  Paul A. Bryant.
 
Highlighting the specialty awards were the Betty Austin Female Student-Athlete of the Year and Vann Pettaway Male Student-Athlete of the Year, each named for a legendary and longtime coach for the Bulldogs. Both are members of the program's Hall of Fame following coaching careers that spanned decades with women's volleyball and men's basketball, respectively.
 
Below is a list of the award winners and an explanation of each award category.
 
Betty Austin Female Student-Athlete of the Year Award Presented to a standout female individual who demonstrated outstanding athletic performance and has been instrumental to the team's success
 
Jasmine Perez-Acosta – Women's Soccer
 
Vann Pettaway Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award Presented to a standout male individual who demonstrated outstanding athletic performance and has been instrumental to the team's success
 
Carson Vinson - Football
 
Kenneth Gunn Scholar Athlete Award This award is presented to a male and female student-athlete that have displayed significant academic accomplishments throughout the year.
 
Keyara Brooks - Volleyball
 
Waylon Sims Team Academic Achievement Award Honoring the athletic program with the highest GPA
 
Women's Tennis
 
Team Highest APR (Academic Progress Rate) Award
Women's Tennis
 
Coach of the Year
Dawn Thornton – Women's Basketball
 
Bulldog Cup
Women's Basketball
 
TEAM AWARDS
Baseball
Most Improved Player: Charles Morris
Most Valuable Player: Trey Rutledge
Bulldog Award: Kylan Duncan
 
Men's Basketball
Most Improved Player: Lorenzo Downey
Most Valuable Player: AC Bryant
Bulldog Award: Clance Crosby
 
Women's Basketball
Most Improved Player: LaCambria Shakespheare
Most Valuable Player: Kalia Walker
Bulldog Award: Alisha Wilson
 
Bowling
Most Improved Bowler: Nila Dulcio 
Most Valuable Bowler: Tamyra Long
Bulldog Award: Rose Ugbinada
 
Cheerleading
Most Improved Cheerleader: Kyndall Myree
Most Valuable Cheerleader: Kenyia Neal
Bulldog Award: Elizabeth Hooker
 
Women's Cross Country
Most Improved Runner: Minka Isom
Most Valuable Runner: Sanyae Gibson
Bulldog Award: Neveah Carrizal
 
Men's Cross Country
Most Improved Runner: Zachary Cooper
Most Valuable Runner: Eric Brannon
Bulldog Award: Juan Osorio
 
Football
Most Improved Offensive Player: Donovan Wright
Most Improved Defensive Player: Arenza Davis
Most Valuable Offensive Player: Carson Vinson
Most Valuable Defensive Player: Cortez Andrews
Bulldog Award: Xavier Lankford
 
Men's Golf
Most Improved Golfer: Lukas Lange
Most Valuable Golfer: Samuel Boddie
Bulldog Award: Niall Bagnall
 
Softball
Most Improved Player: Toni Purchas
Most Valuable Player: Maria Paula Ocrospoma
Bulldog Award: Ariana Montiel
 
Women's Soccer
Most Improved Player: Amelia Barber
Most Valuable Player: Jasmine Perez-Acosta
Bulldog Award: Victoria Mealing
 
Men's Tennis
Most Improved Player: Goran Krivokapic
Most Valuable Player: Yin Chih Lan
Bulldog Award: Freddie Lawrence
 
Women's Tennis
Most Improved Player: Valentine Abide Talaki
Most Valuable Player: Sofia Sotelo Raya
Bulldog Award: Ntokozo Zungu
 
Men's Track & Field
Most Improved Runner: Olivier Jean
Most Valuable Runner: Bravin Kibitok
Bulldog Award: Talil Atkins
 
Women's Track & Field
Most Improved Runner: Amaya Mitchell-Howard
Most Valuable Runner: Laila Gaynor
Bulldog Award: Laila Gaynor
 
Volleyball
Most Improved Player: Michell Jerez
Most Valuable Player: Fatima Ramirez
Bulldog Award: Saniya Spalding
 
Athletics Director Honor Roll
Baseball [5]
Joseph Dawson
Vincent Latimer
Trey Scott
William Taylor
Jose Valerio
 
Cheerleading [4]
Haley Crawley
Amiya Henderson
Alexis Jackson
Kayci Miles
 
Football [8]
Victor Barbosa
William Curtis
Elijah McCray
Ryan Morrow
Myles Parker
Sebastian Silverstein
Davis Smith
Khristian Zachary
 
Men's Golf [3]
Emilio Angelgallon
Bryson Hannah
Lukas Lange
 
Softball [5]
Iyana Canada
Susanna Cruit
Tori Green
Serena Herbranson
Akyndra Montalvo
 
Women's Soccer [12]
Yesenia Aiken
Malini Baker
Chelsie Charles
Czaske Deane
Sarah De Gannes
Carolina Gutierrez
Daniela Marroquin
Taylor McNeal
Isabelle Melton
Zyiah Mikes
Meghane St-Cyr
Sydney Steele
 
Men's Tennis [3]
Kai Cowcher
Tasso Moreira
Arnav Pathange
 
Women's Tennis [7]
Naomi Blanks
Yana Dhamija
Hannah Nagpall
Alicia Owegi
Sofia Sotelo Raya
Valentine Abide Talaki
Ntokozo Zungu
 
Men's Track & Field [3]
Donovan Horne
Lance Powell
Mulamba Ezekiel Salama
 
Women's Track & Field [7]
Ogechukwu Amah
Khalea Avery
Laila Gaynor
Corey Harris
Britney Odhiambo
Victoya Smith
Taylor Wingo
 
Volleyball [4]
Keyara Brooks
Kemora Coachman
Tam Nguyen
Miyah Porter
 
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