NEWS RELEASE
May 15, 2012
 
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Bethune-Cookman University Athletic Department has named Stanley Elliott and Stacey Speller its 2011-12 Male and Female Athletes of the Year, it was announced Friday in conjunction with university commencement exercises.
 
The awards are based on criteria including academic and athletic achievement, as well as leadership and high character. The selection committee consisted of the B-CU Athletic Department’s senior management.
 
Elliott, a senior men’s basketball player from Newark, N.J., was a four-year starter for the Wildcats. He graduated Saturday as the first player since the program elevated to Division I in 1980 to enjoy a winning record in each of his four years. During his time, B-CU won its first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season championship in 2011, played its first post-season game in the 2011 NIT and appeared in the MEAC Tournament championship game for the first time in 2012.
A Mass Communications major, he leaves B-CU as the all-time leader in games played and ninth on the all-time steals list.
 
“I have watched Stanley Elliott perform at a very high level both academically and athletically the past four years,” said B-CU athletic Director Lynn W. Thompson. “For him to cap off a tremendous career on the court, walk across the stage and receive his degree, and being named Male Athlete of The Year is is the perfect trifecta for a well-deserving young man.”
 
Speller, a senior women’s tennis player from Bronx, N.Y., was named to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference first team after compiling a 15-8 record in singles play and 16-8 in doubles play. Her leadership helped Lady Wildcats improve from a 5-15 mark in 2011 to 20-7 this season.
She received her Biology degree on Saturday.
 
“Stacy’s story is a true success story for the whole world to know,” said B-CU Senior Women’s Administrator Sandra L Booker. “Not only has she been an excellent student-athlete, but she is a wife and mother as well. Her accomplishments in athletics are only a small portion of the success of this outstanding young lady.”