NORFOLK, Va. -- A former All-American as a Hawk, Kenneth Simmons, known to friends and foes alike as "Chick" was honored by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference as the Distinguished Alumni from UMES at this year's basketball tournament in Norfolk. Every season, each MEAC institution selects a worthy alumni from each school to be honored by the conference.

A 6'4" presence on the Hawks of the late 1970s and coached by another UMES legend in his own right, Kirkland Hall, Simmons was renowned as a scoring machine for the Maroon & Gray. To this day Simmons ranks fourth on the all-time list with 1,748 points and is second for points in a single season (669) and field goals in a season (278). He also held the record for most points scored in a game by a Hawk, with 52 versus St. Mary's in January 1978.

Simmons was a first team All-MEAC player three of the four seasons he played here, and was honored as a Third Team AP All-American and a NAIA All-American Honorable Mention during his tenure in Princess Anne. Until this season, when Mike Myers was named a Lou Henson All American, Simmons was the last Hawk to be bestowed such an honor.

A native of the Bronx, Simmons was in attendance to receive his award at the basketball tournament.