Katie Freeman and Ben Norman were presented the 2007-08 Craven E. Williams award. Presented to rising seniors at Greensboro College, the honor is the college’s highest distinction that recognizes academics, athletics and community service.

The winners were announced as part of the annual Greensboro College athletics convocation, held April 27 at the Gail B. Huggins Performance Center.

Katie Freeman and Ben norman receive the 2007-08 Craven E. Williams Award from the President.

Soccer Player Norman Sports a 3.79 GPA

The 2007-2008 male recipient of the Craven E. Williams Scholar-Athlete Award is Benjamin Norman.

Norman is a three-year starter on The Pride soccer team and has had a significant role in the teams’ success.  A Business Management major with a minor in the Humanities, Ben sports a 3.79 grade point average and is in the Honor’s Program. He is a native of Blowing Rock, NC and the son of Teresa and Dan Norman. 

As a midfielder, Ben has scored 12 goals and assisted 8 times and has twice been named to the USA South All-Tournament team. “Ben is absolutely everything a coach could want in a student-athlete—character, great attitude and work rate, leadership, selflessness…you name it," Said Coach Bill Brady. "Ben has all the qualities that make him especially worthy of this prestigious honor.” 

When not playing soccer or doing his academic work, Ben has been active with the North Carolina Baptist Ministries, is a volunteer with youth soccer clinics and the Carolina Dynamo summer camps, is a Student Athlete Advisory Committee member, and has already been chosen a soccer team captain for next season. A consistent Dean’s List  qualifier, Ben has also been on the USA South All-Academic Team and GC Athletic Director Honor Roll each year and is a CoSIDA all-academic first team selection as well as an NSCAA all-region academic team member.  He was recently named the recipient of the Proctor Scholarship as an outstanding business major.

Freeman Has Started on Two Conference Champion Teams

The female recipient of the Craven E. Williams Award is Katie Freeman.  

Freeman is a 3-year member of the women’s basketball team where she has helped The Pride to 2 conference titles in 3 years.  A Presidential Scholar, she is an Exercise and Sport Studies major with a concentration in Sport Administration, and has a cumulative grade point average of 3.93. To diversify her portfolio, she’s minoring in Business, Christian Education and the Humanities.  Hailing from Thomasville, NC, Katy is the daughter of Jane and Billy Freeman.

Freeman has been a 2-year captain of the basketball team and is 3rd all-time in minutes played.  She’s been just as active off the court, having participated in Youth Sports Day, served as a student-athlete mentor to freshmen athletes, has been involved with Pride Leaders and tour guides, served as ICCH co-chair, and has been involved in several church-related activities, including a yearly missions trip to Kenya.  Not surprisingly, she was named this year to the USA South Sportsmanship Team for women’s basketball and is an annual honoree on the USA South Academic Team and the Greensboro College Athletic Director Honor Roll.

“Her accomplishments extend throughout the classroom, basketball court, Greensboro College Community, and her walk of faith,” said Coach Jason Tuggle. “It is a privilege and an honor to say that Katie Freeman is a part of Greensboro College. She is truly a special person.”

About the Craven E. Williams Award

In 1999, President Williams established an award for rising seniors within the athletics program to recognize outstanding scholar-athletes who combine athletics excellence with scholarship and service. The award was named the CRAVEN E. WILLIAMS SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD. The names of all honorees are engraved on a permanent plaque, displayed in the lobby of Hanes Gymnasium.

Honorees were nominated and selected by vote of the athletic department staff. Academic success, athletic accomplishments, and contributions within a sport were all considered, as well as involvement in the campus or Greater Greensboro communities.

These student-athletes represent a scholar-athlete model that is worthy of emulation by all student-athletes: outstanding students who also make a difference through campus leadership opportunities, and through community involvement and service.

CEW award recipients will receive an automatic appointment to next year’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee by virtue of this award.

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