USA South Presents Awards at Christopher Newport
(NEWPORT NEWS, VA) - The USA South Athletic Conference recently presented its three President's Cups and "Pennies for a Purpose" plaque to Christopher Newport University while former Captain volleyball player, Caitlyn Jansen, received her Female Don Scalf Award. All of these presentations took place at CNU's football game versus Shenandoah on Saturday, October 8. USA South Commissioner Rita Wiggs was on hand to present the awards.
The USA South President's Cup symbolizes the league's top men's and women's athletic program each year. Christopher Newport captured seven conference regular season championships, four on the women's side and three on the men's side, during the 2010-11 academic season. This is the sixth consecutive Overall President's Cup and Women's President's Cup for the Captains. The Men's President's Cup is the fifth straight for the CNU program.
"I congratulate our teams for winning the President Cups for the 2010-2011 school year," C.J. Woollum, Christopher Newport Director of Athletics said. "It is a special tribute to our athletes and coaches for their performances throughout this past season."
The Scalf award is named in honor of Don Scalf, who was a founding father of the DIAC in 1963 and served as its Secretary-Treasurer for 25 years. He taught for 36 years and coached for 18 at N.C. Wesleyan College. Scalf also served as Athletic Director at N.C. Wesleyan for six years.
Jansen concluded her collegiate career at CNU as a two-time All-American middle blocker. She twice led her team to the National Quarterfinals and was named the 2010 NCAA Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Jansen was a two-time USA South First Team All-Conference Team honoree and the 2009 Conference Player of the Year. In the classroom, Jansen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and twice earned USA South All-Academic accolades. She participated in many community service initiatives including the USA South Cans Across the Conference competition and various Kid's Days associated with CNU's Kid's Club. Off campus, Jansen was a youth leader for the Fairfax County Summer Camps
"It was such an honor to receive the Don Scalf award from Mr. Scalf himself and his lovely wife at the football game this weekend," shared Jansen. "I am very grateful to the USA South and I am proud to represent CNU and our volleyball program by winning this award."
"Caitlyn was a terrific example of a student-athlete doing it 'the right way'," said Lindsay Birch, Jansen's coach and current head of the Captain volleyball program. "I am very proud of all she accomplished as a student-athlete but also extremely proud of how great a teammate and leader she was."
In an effort to help worthy organizations during the spring semester, the USA South Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) developed, "Pennies for a Purpose", in 2008. Institutions are encouraged to collect loose change which is later donated to an organization of their choosing. As a whole, USA South institutions collected $3,629.10 during last year's campaign! CNU earned the 2011 "Pennies for a Purpose" Plaque after collecting $760.00. The Captains donated their winning amount to World Vision, an organization assisting Japan recover from the devastating tsunami which struck the country.
