The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Director of Public Relations, Shera White, Howard Assistant Sports Information Director, Chevonne Mansfield, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Director of Communications, Harry "Trae" Stinson, Norfolk State Assistant AD for Athletics Business Operations, Sherie Cornish and South Carolina State Assistant AD for Internal Operations, Mary Hill, will attend.

The first professional development session will be held on the weekend of June 27, 2008.

The Leadership Institute, a year-long program comprised of four week-end sessions and one week-long intensive workshop, is designed to address the shortage of senior-level administrators of color at NCAA member institutions and in conference offices.

Participants focus on leadership training, skills development and other job-related competencies. This institute is sponsored by the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion and the Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee.

VETERAN HBCU OFFICIAL PASSES: Veteran CIAA and MEAC official Claude Saunders passed June 1, 2008 at the age of 74.

Saunders, a 1955 Johnson C. Smith graduate, was the first Golden Bull to earn all-CIAA basketball status. He was also a retired CIAA official and was inducted into the CIAA Officials Hall of Fame in 2000. He still worked as a neutral official for the CIAA and the MEAC and served as the clock operator for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

A memorial service was held in Charlotte on Saturday, June 7. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Memorial Presbyterian Church Building Fund of Charlotte or sent to the athletic department of Johnson C. Smith University, in memory of Mr. Claude E. Saunders.

FOUR TABBED IN MLB DRAFT Four black college players, two from the SWAC and two from the MEAC, were taken in this past weekend's Major League Baseball Draft.

Calvin Anderson, a 6-7, 240-pound junior first baseman from Seattle who plays for Southern was the first to be selected going to Pittsburgh in the 12th round. Anderson hit .354 and led the Jags with 9 home runs and 36 RBI for the Jags this season.

MEAC Player of the Year shortstop Jose Lozada was next going in the 17th round to Washington. Lozada hit .398 with 7 home runs and 84 hits this season. His teammate, left handed pitcher Joseph Gautier was a 19th round selection of Arizona. He posted six wins with a 2.48 ERA and 74 strikeouts this season.

Jackson State right hander Pernell Halliman, a 6-7, 240-pound senior flamethrower was the last off the boards going to Kansas City in the 40th round.

© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.

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