Texas Tech University Athletics
Perkins Finalist for Senior CLASS Award
January 09, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 9, 2004
Kansas City, Mo. - As the 2003-04 college basketball season swings into full gear, organizers of the Senior CLASS Award announced today that Bayer Advantage? has become title sponsor. The award is presented annually to the top senior male and female NCAA Division I Player-of-the-Year.
The award was launched during the 2001-02 season in response to the recent trend of college basketball players leaving school early to turn professional. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the award was developed to honor seniors for completing their collegiate athletic eligibility.
The idea first came from sportscaster Dick Enberg, who suggested such an award during the CBS telecast of the 2001 National Championship Game when Shane Battier led Duke to the title after returning to college for his senior season.
"We are proud to be associated with the Senior Class Award honoring athletes who are committed to their universities, their teammates, and most importantly, to finishing their education," said John Payne, President and General Manager, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Animal Health Division. "This group of student athletes truly demonstrates the spirit and dedication that represent the foundation of college sports."
Kansas City is the North American headquarters for Bayer Animal Health, a worldwide leader in improving the health and welfare of animals. The company also sponsors the Bayer Advantage? Celebrity Pro-Am, the PGA Champions Tour event held annually at the National Golf Club of Kansas City. Bayer's three-year commitment as title sponsor of the Senior CLASS Award begins with the current 2003-04 basketball.
"For many years, Bayer has been involved in supporting our country's educational community by reinforcing the importance of a strong education and the commitment necessary to be prepared for tomorrow's challenges," Payne said. "This award aligns perfectly with our corporate educational goals by bringing a higher level of awareness to those who make that commitment to succeed."
The inaugural award winners were Juan Dixon of Maryland and Sue Bird of Connecticut, followed last year by David West of Xavier and LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State.
Nominees for the 2003-04 award were also announced today. Each list - male and female - contains a minimum of 30 candidates, based on performance and achievements from their junior season.
Both the men's and women's roster of candidates includes several preseason All-Americans. Missouri, Texas and Gonzaga each have two nominees for the male award. Duke is the only women's program that has more than one candidate (complete list attached).
In early February, a national media committee that covers Division I college basketball will select ten Finalists from the list of candidates. The names of these Finalists will appear on the official ballot during the national voting process in March. The selection of the men's and women's award winner will be based on the cumulative ballots of the national media committee, college basketball coaches and nationwide fan balloting.
The men's winner will be announced on CBS television by Enberg during the NCAA Men's Final Four in San Antonio. The female winner will be announced during the NCAA Women's Final Four in New Orleans.
At the same time, the Bayer Advantage Senior CLASS Award will also announce First-Team and Second-Team All-Senior All-America teams, based on results from the balloting.
The winners will be presented with their awards during the CLASS Tribute Gala hosted by the Pride of Kansas City Foundation on April 30, 2004, three weeks following the Final Four.
Female CandidatesPlayer-School Beard, Alana-Duke
Benningfield, Jenni-Vanderbilt
Bjorkund, Tera-Colorado
Brunson, Rebekkah-Georgetown
Christon, Shameka-Arkansas
Ciocan, Christina-South Carolina
Clark, Jewell-Penn
Davidson, Courtney-Navy
Ernest, Heather-Maine
Hardin, Gerlonda-Austin Peay
Hoffman, Ebony-USC
Jones, Chandi-Houston
Mazzante, Kelly-Penn State
McBride, Julie-Syracuse
Mendiola, Giuliana-Washington
Nord, Sara-Louisville
Ohlde, Nicole-Kansas State
Peljito, Hana-Harvard
Perkins, Jia-Texas Tech
Powell, Nicole-Stanford
Reddick, Nikki-Coastal Carolina
Stephens, Stacy-Texas
Stevens, Jenel-Canisius
Taurasi, Diana-Connecticut
Taylor, Lindsay-UC-Santa Barbara
Thomas, Christie-Georgia
Tillis, Iciss-Duke
Villarroel, Maria-Oklahoma
Whalen, Lindsay-Minnesota
Williams, Cricket-San Jose St.
Wright, Shereka-Purdue
