RALEIGH, N.C. (May 16) — Multi-talented standout Shakera Hall (Bridgetown, Barbados) of Saint Augustine’s University was named the 2018 CIAA Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year at the conference’s End-Of-Year Awards Reception in Charlotte, N.C., on Tuesday, May 15.
“This is overwhelming,” Hall said. “I would like to thank Coach [George] Williams for helping me become a well-rounded individual at Saint Augustine’s University.”
Hall earned the honor for her exceptional achievements in athletics, academics and community service. She graduated summa cum laude on Saturday, May 12, with a degree in business administration. Her cumulative grade point average of 3.939 met the requirement of summa cum laude, which is the University’s highest academic distinction among graduates. A summa cum laude GPA is between 3.80 and 4.00.
At the SAU athletic banquet in April, Hall won highest GPA individual awards in volleyball, women’s indoor track and field and women’s outdoor track and field.
As an athlete, Hall excelled in both volleyball and track and field. She garnered several postseason awards in volleyball including HERO Sports D2 Volleyball Fan Choice National Offensive Player of the Year and CIAA Volleyball Offensive Player of the Year. Hall was also an All-CIAA first team selection for the second consecutive year.
A ferocious outside hitter, Hall led the CIAA and ranked fourth nationally in Division II in kills per set (5.04). She also ranked seventh in DII in points per set (5.43).
In track and field, Hall played a key role in helping the nationally-ranked Lady Falcons sweep the CIAA indoor and outdoor titles. She is the CIAA 60-meter hurdles indoor champion and 100-meter hurdles outdoor champion. Hall has captured four individual conference crowns in her stellar career including the Pentathlon in 2017 and 2015.
The SAU graduate found time in her busy schedule to help others. She was among a group of CIAA students who volunteered with the Samaritan’s Feet organization during the league’s basketball tournament in Charlotte, N.C. She washed children’s feet and gave them new socks and shoes.
Hall is the second SAU Scholar-Athlete winner in two years. In 2017, track and field standout Shawn Rowe was the CIAA men’s recipient of the honor.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 GPA, superior athletic achievement, community service and spent one year at the institution. Student-athletes were nominated by the conference’s sports information directors and voted on by the league’s athletic directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletic representatives and sports information directors.