Stillman's Haskins, Penfield Earn HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Stillman College was one of several schools from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Athletic Conference to capture HBCU Makeda Excellence Awards presented by the Rice Fame Group on Monday night.

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The third annual awards ceremony highlighted the achievements of top HBCU athletes, coaches, bands and band directors for the 2023-24 season.

Nominations were submitted by each institution and winners selected by coaches and band directors.

Stillman College is an incoming member of the conference and emerged with two awards.

Head softball coach Joel Penfield was named Coach of the Year after leading the Tigers to a 37-15 record and an NAIA Opening Round berth, while outfielder Lauren Haskins earned Softball Athlete of the Year after securing NAIA Third Team All-American honors and Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Haskins, a native of Alabaster, was instrumental in breaking Stillman's single-season wins record over the past two years, finishing the season with a .424 batting average, 75 hits, and a total of 24 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles, three triples, and seven home runs.

The award recipients will be officially honored later this year and celebrated at their respective institutions.

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