PRINCESS ANNE, Md. -- On April 28, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Athletics Department hosted the second annual "The Harrys" inside the Student Service Center (SSC) Theater. The venue featured a big screen type atmosphere, similar to "The Oscars." The Harry's showcased red carpet, good food and guest announcers while recognizing the team and individual accomplishments during the 2014-15 season.

UMES Male & Female Athletes of the Year were announced by Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs & Media Relations, G. Stan Bradley, who revealed men's basketball senior Mike Myers (Camden, N.J.) and women's basketball senior Jessica Long (Fort Washington, Md.) as the top vote getters in the department. Myers was selected the Riley Wallace National Player of the Year for the country's top DI transfer and a finalist for the Lou Henson Award for the country's top mid-major player. For Long, she climbed into program's record book as she finished on the program's all-time leaderboards, tied for sixth in steals, fifth in assists, third in free throws made, and 10^th on the all-time scoring list, including nailing a game-winner to beat #1 seed Hampton in the MEAC Tournament and guiding UMES to its first ever championship game appearance.

UMES' 2015 Hawk of the Year was presented to Assistant Athletic Director of Academics, Collene Dean. Over the years, Dean has led the charge in the area of academics. She helped UMES win the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's (MEAC) Graduation Success Rate five years in a row, assisted men's basketball in graduating more student-athletes than any other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), aided student-athletes in winning numerous National awards for academics, including NCAA Elite 89 awards, Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Awards, and Academic All-Americans.She "has mentored and mothered" many of the Hawk student-athletes, her plaque inscription read.

The show began with a performance by the UMES Diamonds dance team, featuring student and staff performing the hit single "Glory" by Common and John Legend from the movie Selma. Then, President Dr. Julliette B. Bell gave the welcome address, before those with outstanding academic achievements were honored at center stage.

Next, the individual team awards were given out:

Baseball: Mike Escanilla (MVP),Jordan Bone(Coaches Award),Joshua James(Coaches Award)

Men's Basketball: Mike Myers (MVP), Ryan Andino (Rookie of the Year), Travis Trim (Most Improved)

Women's Basketball: Jessica Long (MVP), Moengaroa Subritzky (Rookie of the Year), Alexus Hicks (Most Improved)

Bowling: Marianna Alvarado (MVP), Tatiana Munoz (Coaches Award), Thashaina Seraus (Rookie of the Year)

Cheerleading: Brandy Tankard (MVP), Takeara Purnell (Rookie of the Year), Spencer "Alex" Davis (Coaches Award)

Men's Cross Country: Khalil Rmidi Kinnini (MVP), Nelson Kimutai (Rookie of the Year), Mark Tuwei (Coaches Award)

Women's Cross Country: Barbara Blahutova (MVP/Rookie of the Year), Rachel Halmon (Coaches Award)

Golf: Norman Blanco (MVP), Christian Owens (Rookie of the Year), Timothy Mitchell (Most Improved)

Softball: Vanessa Gomez (MVP), Adrienne Guerra (Rookie of the Year), Emily Diseroad (Coaches Award)

Men's Tennis: Michael Cha (MVP/Rookie of the Year)

Women's Tennis: Melequa King (MVP), Aleksandra Manolova (Most Improved), DaTonya Price (Rookie of the Year)

Men's Indoor Track and Field: Dillon Simon (MVP-Field), Khalil Rmidi Kinini (MVP-Track), Oussama Chouati (Rookie of the Year), Devin Wynn (Coaches Award)

Women's Indoor Track and Field: Shelasia Leitch (MVP-Field), Jheniel Kelly (MVP-Track), Barbora Blahutova (Rookie of the Year), Rachel Halmon (Most Improved)

Men's Outdoor Track and Field: Dillon Simon (MVP-Field), Khalil Rmidi Kinini (MVP-Track), Oussama Chouati (Rookie of the Year), Taj Showalter (Most Improved)

Women's Outdoor Track and Field: Shauntel Lucius (MVP-Field), Shantol Hemley (MVP-Track), Barbora Blahutova (Rookie of the Year), Margret Wilmot-Franics (Most Improved)

Volleyball: Ashley Smith (MVP), Alana Polk (Coaches Award), Kirstin Fink (Rookie of the Year)

Pat Nativio, Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Medicine, announced the men's basketball team as this year's recipient of the Quantum Leap Award,given to the team with the biggest improvements collectively throughout the season.

Also, the Men's & Women's Team of Scholars were given to baseball and women's bowling whereas the Male & Female Jostens' Award for Sportsmanship honored baseball's Jordan Bone (Pittston, Pa.) and bowler Valerie Riggin (Vista, Calif). UMES' Business Manager, Kevin Campbell, presented the awards.

UMES Male & Female Scholar Athlete of the Year was given to track & field's Dillon Simon (Pottersville, Roseau, Dominica) and bowler Tatiana Munoz (Ibague Tolima, Colombia). The inaugural Male & Female Citizen Athlete of the Year was presented by Talareah Campbell, Student-Athlete Services Coordinator, and the winners were men's basketball Ishaq Pitt (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and softball's Samantha Casarez (Sylmar, Calif.).

Keith Davidson, Director of Athletics, ended the night by presenting the Director's Appreciation Award to Jesse T. Williams. In honor of Mr. Williams' contributions throughout the years,the athletics department will name its basketball court after the UMES Hall of Famer. The court will be renamed the Jesse T. WilliamsCourt and dedicated in the Fall of 2015.

For complete recaps, results and news of Hawk athletics, please visitwww.umeshawks.com.