Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Track & Field's Ukabam earns Charlotte West Scholarship
08/10/2005 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
Aug. 10, 2005
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University track and field standout Amarachi Ukabam was named the 2005-06 recipient of the Charlotte West Scholarship.
Ukabam hails from Creve Coeur, Mo., and came to Carbondale after a successful two-year stint at Ohio State. In her first season, Ukabam garnered honors in the Saluki track and field program that may go unmatched for many years to come.
"It's nice for our program that Amarachi has won this prestigious award," said head coach Connie Price-Smith. "Amarachi is a natural leader, excellent athlete and great role model."
In 2005, Ukabam won indoor Missouri Valley Conference titles in the shot put and 20lb weight throw, and was the league's outdoor champion in the shot and discus.
A four-time NCAA All-American (indoor-shot, 20lb weight; outdoor-shot, discus), Ukabam earned a Mideast Regional shot put title and was a USA Nationals finalist in the discus. She also broke school records in indoor shot (55.6), 20lb weight (71.3), outdoor shot (57.5) and discus (184.5).
Academically, Ukabam carries a 3.79 GPA in Health Education and has aspirations to teach and coach someday.
The Charlotte West Scholarship, which was first established in 1997, is awarded to a junior or senior female student-athlete who has lettered two years and carries at least a 3.25 GPA. The recipient must also have demonstrated an interest or a commitment to ensuring equitable benefits or enhancing opportunities for female athletes, and must display qualities of dedication, integrity, responsibility and leadership.
The award was named in honor of West, who served as the Salukis' head women's basketball coach from 1959-75 and SIU's Director of Women's Athletics from 1975-87. Once the men's and women's athletics departments merged in 1987, she became Associate Athletics Director and remained in that position until her retirement in 1998.
Past Charlotte West Scholarship Winners2001-02 Chiara Calvetti, Softball2002-03 Alison Hiller, Women's Golf2003-04 Katie Berwanger, Women's Basketball2004-05 Tana Trapani, Women's Tennis
