December 13, 2005 
Contact: Cory Blackson, Sports Information Director

Gipson Presented the Don Scalf Award

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Each year the USA South Athletic Conference presents its most prestigious awards by honoring one male and one female as the Student-Athletes of the Year.  In June, Methodist College women's soccer player Christina Gipson and Averett University football player Scott Swann were named the 2005 recipients of the Don Scalf Award. 

This award is named in honor of Don Scalf, whose commitment to the student-athlete, guardianship of the value of academic achievement and devotion to the principles of Division III athletics set a standard that holds steadfast in the Conference today. He taught for 36 years and coached for 18 at N.C. Wesleyan. He also served as Athletic Director for six years. During his coaching career his teams won Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now USA South Athletic Conference) basketball and golf championships. He was a founding father of the DIAC in 1963 and served as its Secretary-Treasurer for 25 years.

Christina Gipson was recognized at a brunch on Nov. 18, 2005 in Fayetteville, N.C.  Don and JoAnn Scalf were on hand to recognize this year's female recipient. 

During her tenure at Methodist, Gipson was successful on the soccer field, in the classroom and in the community.  She Graduated Cum Laude this past Spring with a 3.6 grand point average in Athletic Training and Sports Management.  Gipson was a four-time USA South Athletic Conference All-Academic selection and was twice nominated for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American honors.  She was named to the Dean's List and President's List four semesters each at Methodist and was also once selected to the National Chancellor's List.  Athletically, Gipson was a four-year starter for the Monarch's women's soccer team where she was three-time All-Conference selection, including two times as a first-team selection.  After her senior season she was named the Monarch's Most Valuable Player by her teammates.  Gipson was actively involved at Methodist with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as the President of Methodist's SAAC and the USA South Athletic Conference SAAC.  She also represented the USA South on the national level as a member of the National SAAC Council.