MONTGOMERY -- The Alabama State University Athletic Department held its annual athletic awards banquet at the Acadome Wednesday night.

Dr. Karyn Scissum Gunn, ASU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, delivered the keynote address at the event, which unofficially marks the conclusion of the 2008-09 athletic season. ASU national alumni president Brenda Kahn Spells presided over the event.

Student-athletes were recognized and honored for their successes both on and off the playing field. Each athletic program presented its annual team awards during the ceremony. Special recognition was paid to the SWAC Championships earned by Alabama State teams this season, including the men's and women's cross country, women's indoor track and field and the men's basketball regular season and tournament titles.

In addition, the athletic department also announced the recipients of several other awards. The John H. Jones Scholarship, presented in honor of the former ASU track coach, was awarded to student athletes Kesia Derilus, Tanaira Foster and Whitney Austin. Women's basketball player Brittney Harris was presented the Robert Whitfield Award for Excellence, which is given for achievement “above and beyond the normal requirements of an individual's position or for successful/special athletic performance” and is named in honor of the ASU graduate and former athletic department staff member. Chief Kickingstallionsims, a member of the men's basketball squad, received the Arthur D. Barnett Perseverance Award, which is named for the former ASU athletic director.

The G.H. Lockhart Award, which recognizes the most outstanding Alabama State athlete, was given to men's basketball standout Andrew Hayles. Kickingstallingsims and ASU volleyball player Angelica Grissom were co-winners of the Josie Lawrence-Beth Jenkins Award.