NORFOLK, Va. (June 18, 2019)-The postseason awards and honors keep coming for recent Morgan State softball graduate Damali Young, who was named 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Woman of the Year by the conference office this afternoon. Young becomes the first from Morgan State to receive the honor.
 
Delaware State's NaJai Pollard (women's basketball) was the 2019 MEAC Woman of the Year runner-up. She graduated with a degree in Sports Management with a 3.20 GPA.

The award, selected annually by the MEAC Senior Woman Administrators, celebrates the achievements of senior female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
 
"Congratulations to Damali Young for having a spectacular career, not only on the softball field, but in her academic pursuits as well," said MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis Thomas. "In addition, her service to the community is truly exceptional. I would like to thank the Morgan State University athletic staff, coaches, academic support personnel and Damali's family, who all had an influential part in her success. I wish her continued success in her future endeavors."
 
Young, a native of Westampton, N.J., was the 2019 MEAC Player of the Year after ranking top five in the conference in slugging percentage (.564), on-base percentage (.462), runs scored (47), hits (49), total bases (79), triples (4), walks (28) and stolen bases (31). She was 14^th in the NCAA in stolen bases and 36^th in runs per game.
 
In all, Young holds 10 program records – including career hits, career runs scored, career walks, career stolen bases, single-season hits, single-season runs, single-season doubles, single-season at-bats, single-season stolen bases and single-season walks.
 
A two-time First-Team All-MEAC selection, Young, two weeks ago was also named HBCU Division I Player of the Year for this past season. She would help the Lady Bears to the program's third straight 20-plus win season (22-24), while breaking four school records and tying another one.
 
Young, who graduated this past May with a 3.59 GPA in Construction Management, has been a mainstay on Morgan State's AD Honor Roll, as well as the Commissioner's All-Academic Team. In the fall of 2018, she was named a Distinguished Scholar Athlete, presented to Bears with GPAs of 3.5 or higher.
 
In the community, Young has given time and blood to Gift of Life, a service where DNA and blood are put in a database so that if needed, the donor can be contacted to help save a life. In addition, if the donor's samples match, the result can be a much-needed transfusion or organ transplant.
 
In addition, Young has donated money and toys to the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) for animals that live in the shelter. She is also an advocate for Tiny Superheroes, an organization that raises money for ill and disabled children.
 
Young has also volunteered during Barton Malow Community Week, helping restore corridors in a downtown Inner Harbor building in Baltimore called Living Classrooms for inner-city children. She also spent that week helping prepare food for the less fortunate as part of Movable Feasts.
 
During her senior year Young was and is still hard at work at Barton Malow on the construction of the new Calvin and Tina Tyler Hall building on the Morgan State campus, which is slated to open in 2020.
 
Other volunteer efforts include the YMCA/Special Olympics of Central Maryland and the Morgan State SAAC Trunk-or-Treat, where Morgan State students filled their car trunks with candy on campus and children were allowed to go from car to car in an effort to allow them to trick-or-treat safely.
 
"There's no doubt in my mind that this most recent accolade is the one that makes my college years worthwhile," said Young on being named MEAC Woman of the Year. "Of course, I am so grateful to be honored for my athletic success, but to be recognized for who I am as a person is invaluable. It sheds light on how amazing my family has been to me to mold me into the woman I am and I cannot think of a more satisfying award."
 
Young will represent the MEAC as its nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. The NCAA established this award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Now in its 28^th year, the award is unique because it recognizes not only the athletic achievements of outstanding young women, but also their academic achievements, community service and leadership.
 
The NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced on Sunday, Oct. 20 at the awards dinner in Indianapolis, Ind.
 
The MEAC Media Relations Office contributed to this release. 

MEAC Woman of the Year Honorees
2006       Renecia Lovelace, North Carolina A&T State (Softball)
2007       Courtney Smiley, Howard (Basketball)
2008       Jessica Worsley, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2009       Loreal Smith, North Carolina A&T State (Track and Field)
2010       Kalyn Washburn, Delaware State (Bowling)
2011       Kristina Frahm, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2012       Jazmyne Hefflefinger, Delaware State (Bowling)
2013       T'nia Falbo, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2014       Christina Epps, Coppin State (Track and Field)
2015       Mariana Alvarado Nava, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2016       Jenny Tracy, North Carolina Central (Softball)
2017       Thashaina Seraus, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2018       Lyndsey Edwards, Bethune-Cookman (Basketball)
2019       Damali Young, Morgan State (Softball)