AUGUST 25, 2019
BY AAGD STAFF
Hampton University women’s golf team member Jakari Harris was one of 10 recipients of the George A. Christenberry Award presented during the Spring Meetings on May 30, 2019 in Hilton Head, S.C. The award is the most prestigious academic honor by the Big South Conference. The Big South Conference had previously announced the prolific news several weeks ago.
The award is given to the male and female student-athlete who attain the highest GPA during their undergraduate collegiate careers.
Harris, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, is majoring in chemical engineering and seeks to become a biomedical engineer. The dutiful student carries a 4.06 grade point average. As a member of Hampton’s women’s golf team, Harris has excellent skills and during the recently completed Big South Championships she had her best three-round event brandishing a 250 total and a season-best round of 79. She leads the team in scoring average at 83.
Jakari Harris (photo: WatchTheYard.com)
“I am so proud of Jakari Harris for being Hampton’s first Christenberry Award winner,” said Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey. “These awards are very special in the conference and to have her earn one in our first season shows the type of student-athlete we aim for at Hampton University,” according to WatchTheYard.com
“I would also like to extend my congratulations to Jakari Harris for being Hampton’s first George A. Christenberry Award winner,” said Dr. JoAnn W. Haysbert, Chancellor and Provost for Hampton University. “Earning this prestigious award from the conference reinforces the “Standard of Excellence” that has been a motto of Hampton University forever.”
Prior to entering Hampton University, Harris attended Woodward Academy where she played on the varsity golf team all four years and shot a season-best 77 as a freshman. She was also named Rookie of the Year and MVP. Harris was team MVP as a Woodward Academy sophomore and junior and shot a career-best 71 as a senior and led the team in birdies. Harris helped Woodward win the 4AAAA title as a senior and she also played basketball all four years being named Most Improved as a junior.
Big South member institutions nominate one male and one female undergraduate student-athlete for the annual Christenberry Award. The honor is named for George A. Christenberry, the former President of Augusta College (now Augusta University) and one of the founders of the Big South Conference. A member of the Big South Hall of Fame, Christenberry served as the league’s first President from 1983-86.
