ORLANDO, Fla. (June 3, 2022) – Howard University Department of Athletics won the 2022 Mary McLeod Bethune Women's All-Sports Award Thursday (June 2) at the Walt Disney World Resort in association with the Disney on the Yard. The event was in conjunction with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) annual spring meetings.
 
Howard picked up its first Mary McLeod Bethune award since 1992 (fifth overall).

"I am so proud of our coaches, student-athletes and athletic department leadership for capping off this year by winning the 2022 Mary McLeod Bethune Women's All-Sports Award," said Chevonne Mansfield, Howard Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director & Senior Women's Administrator. "We have many talented and driven people in our department, each striving to be the best in their respective fields. This award is a testament to the hard work, sacrifice and commitment they put in day after day."
 
The all-sports awards are indicators of the overall strengths of the conference's men's and women's athletic programs. Howard was presented with a $20,000 check.
 
"Congratulations to Howard University, including President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, Director of Athletics Kery Davis, and the administrators, coaches, student-athletes and support staff for winning the Mary McLeod Bethune Women's All-Sports Award," MEAC Commissioner Sonja Stills said.
 
Howard women scored 57.3 points after sharing the regular-season title in volleyball and basketball, while also winning the indoor track & field and outdoor track & field championships and the regular-season title in tennis. HU was also runners-up in cross country and softball during the regular season.
 
Norfolk State University captured the Talmadge Layman Hill Men's All-Sports Award.
 
"Receiving these awards is indicative of the overall strength of their athletics programs, and both institutions had a phenomenal 2021-22 academic year," Stills added.
 
Points are awarded in a descending order, beginning with nine (9) points for championships or first-place regular-season finishes. The second-place team receives seven (7) points. Tied teams split the point total.
 
Points were given for regular-season finishes in every sport except cross country, indoor track & field, outdoor track & field and men's golf, where points were awarded based on finishes at MEAC championships.
 
Disney on the Yard is an initiative established in 2020 to deepen The Walt Disney Company's existing engagement with HBCUs. The initiative also will help build a robust, long-term pipeline of Black talent through the development of student internships, mentorship opportunities, internal HBCU cultural series, virtual career showcases for students, and more.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com and/or the MEAC website at www.MEACSports.com.