Student-Athletes from Mississippi's public, private, two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions were honored recently for their achievements in the classroom with the annual Halbrook Awards, presented at the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities (MAC) business meeting, held recently using an online meeting platform. Honored from The W were Coleman Suber for men and Anna Kate O'Bryant for women, both of whom finished their eligibility in 2020-21.
 
"We are so proud of Coleman and Anna Kate for earning this honor," MUW Director of Athletics Jennifer Claybrook said. "To compete with success on an intercollegiate athletics team and – at the same time - also have high achievement in the classroom, says volumes about each of them as individuals and their dedication to excellence.  They are both just more examples of the outstanding individuals in The W's Long Blue Line of alumni."
 
Suber, a native of Calhoun City, Miss. (Calhoun City H.S.), played two seasons for the Owls golf team after transferring to The W from East Mississippi Community College. As a senior in 2020-21, Suber tied for fifth in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) for best stroke average, with a 76.0, and was third at the USCAA Championships to earn first team USCAA All-American status. He helped the Owls to a runner-up finish in the final USCAA standings.
 
As a junior, Suber was a second team USCAA All-American, finishing 14th overall. The W team placed fifth in 2019-20.
 
Suber was a two-time USCAA All-Academic Team honoree. He posted a 4.0 grade point average each term with the Owls, to earn a spot on The W Athletic Director's Honor Roll, as well. He was a kinesiology major, with a physical therapy concentration.
 
"I am honored to be chosen to represent The W," Suber said upon learning of the Halbrook Award.
 
Currently, Suber is in physical therapy school at UMC-Jackson.
 
O'Bryant, a native of Columbus and a graduate of New Hope H.S., played softball for the Owls. O'Bryant, currently, works as an Employment Services Specialist in The W's Office of Human Resources. O'Bryant graduated with a degree in business administration, with a concentration in health care management.
 
O'Bryant played four seasons for the Owls. During her career in the Blue & White, The W made three trips to the USCAA Softball World Series, placing sixth in 2021, third in 2019 and fifth in 2018 (there were no USACAA post-season games in 2020 due to COVID). Additionally, O'Bryant was selected as a USCAA All-Academic Team member and named to The W's A.D. Honor Roll all four seasons, sporting a 4.0 g.p.a. in seven of her eight terms.
 
"It is an honor to be a recipient of the Halbrook Award," O'Bryant stated. "My time as a student-athlete at Mississippi University for Women were some of the best years of my life. The friendships and memories I made as an Owls softball player are ones that I will always cherish."
 
 
The Halbrook program recognizes colleges and universities that achieve and maintain high academic standards for student athletes, thus encouraging high graduation rates.  The award was endowed by former Mississippi Representative David Halbrook Sr. and his brothers in honor of their parents.
 
The awards were announced during the annual MAC Conference, which brings together attendees from across the state serving in postsecondary institutions in roles including presidents and chancellors, chief academic officers, chief student affairs officers, chief financial officers, admissions officers, institutional effectiveness officers, faculty and administrators. Due to COVID-19, the MAC Conference was held virtually this year.
 
Blue Mountain College President Dr. Barbara McMillin, who served as the 2020-2021 president of the MAC Board of Directors, announced the awards.
 
Student Athlete Certificate Recipients:

David M. Halbrook Certificate Award for Academic Achievement Among Athletes
Public University Division
Institution	Male Recipient	Female Recipient
Alcorn State University	Jarius Colley	Kiana Allen
Delta State University	Giulio Brugnoni	Lucia Martelli
Jackson State University	Charles C. McClelland	Kayla Owens
Mississippi State University	Gary Griffin Agent	Elanor Grimwood
Mississippi University for Women	Coleman Suber	Anna Kate O'Bryant
Mississippi Valley State Univ.	Mychael Jamison	Tiara DeRosa
University of Mississippi	Tim Elko	Madeleine King
University of Southern Mississippi	Swayze Bozeman	JoAnnie Ramos Aleman
Independent College and University Division
Institution	Male Recipient	Female Recipient
Belhaven University	Reed Vincent	Ellie Brooker
Blue Mountain College	Owen J. Hill	Annie Lusby
Millsaps College	Newlon Gillihan	Katelyn Norse
Mississippi College	Zach Jones	Alexa Laurendine
Rust College	Saul Gonzaez-Nucete	Tianna Smith
Tougaloo College	Tyler Hickman	Morgan Hunter
William Carey University	Magruder O'Bannon	McKinley Seal
Community and Junior College Division
Institution	Male Recipient	Female Recipient
Coahoma Community College	Charles Yates	Millay Lambert
Copiah-Lincoln Community College	William Lawson Harkins	Morgan Alexandria McCray
East Central Community College	Robert Jonathan Holifield	Sidney Elaine Rone
East Miss. Community College	Ian Richard	Lillian Ramsey
Hinds Community College	Ethan Thomas Boyd	Rebecca Anne Blackwell
Holmes Community College	Edwin Herard	Laney Smith
Itawamba Community College	Noah Locastro	Hannah Henry
Jones College	Zachary Diaz	Katherine Wallace
Meridian Community College	John Etheridge	Sophie Roberts
Miss. Delta Community College	Tailor Anderson	Danielle Tedder
Miss. Gulf Coast Comm. College	Deon Travis	Kristina Georgieva
Northeast Miss. Comm. College	Austin Shaw	Williette Kingdom
Northwest Miss. Comm. College	Ryan Cade Spratlin	Katelyn Rock
Pearl River Community College	Graham Crawford	Sydney Runnels
Southwest Miss. Comm. College	Joshua Thomas Bailey	Anna Claire Crow

 
The David M. Halbrook Certificate for Academic Achievement Among Athletes recognizes the efforts of individual student athletes who excel in academics, leadership and service.  Each college or university selected a male and female student athlete to receive this recognition.
 
The Halbrook Award for Academic Achievement Among Athletes was established in 1984 as a result of the passage of House Concurrent Resolution No. 88.  The awards program is made possible through endowments from former Representative David M. Halbrook of Belzoni and his brothers, John C. and James G. Halbrook of Belzoni and J. A. Halbrook of Beaumont, Texas, in honor of their parents, John C. and Ernestine McCall Halbrook.
 
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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.