DURHAM, N.C. – Tennis player Naresh Bharathy and track & field jumper Tia Lucas were selected North Carolina Central Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year on Monday evening (April 27) at the Eddies, the name of the annual NCCU athletic awards ceremony.

An All-MEAC men's tennis selection, Bharathy was a key member of the 2025 Men's HBCU Championship team and is a three-time MEAC All-Academic honoree. A senior biology major, Bharathy has a cumulative grade point average of 3.93.

One of the MEAC's top jumpers, Lucas is a three-time conference high jump champion and six-time All-MEAC pick. The NCCU senior is currently atop the MEAC outdoor high jump rankings and is tied for seventh in the Southeast Region. A two-time MEAC All-Academic selection, Lucas majors in biology with a 3.47 cumulative GPA.

The Student-Athlete Award is presented to a graduating senior who has excelled athletically and academically.

Football player Walker Harris and volleyball player Kamren Harper were chosen Men's and Women's Player of the Year, respectively. Harris was named MEAC Offensive Player of the Year after becoming the top single-season passer in program history, throwing for 3,214 yards and 24 touchdowns. A first-team All-MEAC pick, Harper ended her career as the program's Division I leader in kills with 1,172.

Volleyball player Karolina Zubkova and men's tennis player Rodrigo Alves won the Chancellor's Award, presented to the graduating male and female student-athlete with the highest overall grade point average.

Below is a list of the 2026 Eddies award winners:

Student-Athlete of the Year
Female - Tia Lucas (Women's Track & Field)
Male - Naresh Bharathy (Men's Tennis)
 
Player of the Year
Female – Kamren Harper (Volleyball)
Male – Walker Harris (Football)
 
Faculty Athletic Council Award (Small Team)
Men's Tennis
 
Faculty Athletic Council Award (Large Team)
Volleyball
 
Chancellor's Award
Karolina Zubkova (Volleyball)
Rodrigo Alves (Men's Tennis)
 
Harper Armstrong Graduate Award
Rachelle Starreveld (Women's Tennis Grad Assistant)
 
Politano-McCree Graduate Service Award
Takia Nichols (Softball Grad Assistant)
 
Chekeria Reid Sportsmanship
Female – Laila Jackson (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country)
Male – Clay Green (Men's Golf)
 
Newcomer of the Year
Female – Sanaa Carter (Women's Golf)
Male – Gage Lattimore (Men's Basketball)
 
Donor of the Year
Kevin Holloway
 
Sponsor of the Year
Quality Care Solutions
 
Eagle Cup (Team)
Varsity Cheer
 
LuAnn Edmonds-Harris Legacy Award
Lucy Mason
George "Bulldog" Smith
 
Eagles Excellence Academic Award
Women's Basketball – Dianna Blake
Varsity Cheer – MiKayla Jackson
Football – Aleni Mageo
Women's Cross Country – Navi McDowell
Women's Golf – Mya Smith
Softball – Simone Mack
Women's Tennis – Valentina de Aquino
Women's Track & Field – Sydni Smith
Volleyball – Karolina Zubkova
Men's Basketball – Justin Edwards
Men's Cross Country – Ryan Chong
Men's Golf – Hershal Patel
Men's Tennis – Rodrigo Alves
Men's Track & Field – Travis Stuckey
 
Debra Saunders-White Leadership Award
Women's Basketball – Najah Lane
Varsity Cheer – Milijah Hall
JV Cheer – Danija Jackson
Football – Christian Smith
Women's Cross Country – Victoria Swepson
Women's Golf – Cailynn Winford
Softball – Izabella Chavez
Women's Tennis – Alejandra Hidalgo Vega
Women's Track & Field – Tia Lucas
Volleyball – Manuela Cripa Nasser
Men's Basketball – Kelechi Okworogwo
Men's Cross Country – Emmanuel Paddyfote
Men's Golf – Clay Green
Men's Tennis – Naresh Bharathy
Men's Track & Field – Malcolm Forbes
 
Coaches Most Valuable Player Award
Women's Basketball – Natalie Jasper
Varsity Cheer – Teshaun Johnson
JV Cheer – Jessica Shonganie
Football – Walker Harris
Women's Cross Country – Alitza Dennard
Women's Golf – Sanaa Carter
Softball – Madeline Janssen
Women's Tennis – Alejandra Hidalgo Vega, Mariana Zottoli
Women's Track & Field – Melanne Sutton
Volleyball – Kamren Harper
Men's Basketball – Dionte Johnson
Men's Cross Country – Emmanuel Paddyfote
Men's Golf – Jamal Hutchison
Men's Tennis – Rodrigo Alves, Neiman Sneed
Men's Track & Field – Zion Amadi
 
For more information on NCCU Athletics, visit NCCUEaglePride.com.