CSUDH Honors Student-Athletes With Awards Reception
Special awards given to Athletics Director Ron Prettyman, Baseball Head Coach George Wing
May 11, 2005

The 2005 student athlete award recipients (L-R): Nathan Reeves, Ricky Eda, Keesha Aldridge, Jennifer Funk, Valerie Long, Taneisha Antoine.

CSUDH Athletics Director Ron Prettyman presented baseball head coach George Wing a plaque commemorating Wing’s 400th victory as skipper of the Toro baseball team. Pictured, L-R, Prettyman, Wing, Wing’s wife Rody.

Dr. Boice Bowman (left) honoring departing Athletics Director Ron Prettyman for a decade of service to CSUDH.

Carson, CA -- Cal State Dominguez Hills hosted its annual Toros Athletics Awards Reception on Monday evening at CSUDH's Extended Education Building, honoring student-athletes from the 2004-05 school year for both their efforts on the playing field and in the classroom. Additionally, the attendees were treated to special awards bestowed upon Ron Prettyman and baseball head coach George Wing for their respective accomplishments to the CSUDH Athletics Department.

Emceed by Assistant Athletics Director Patrick Guillen, the event was attended by contingents from all 11 CSUDH sports, as well as by CSUDH faculty and staff, and in all, six awards were presented to Toros student-athletes.

Softball's Jennifer Funk (Long Beach, CA/St. Joseph HS/San Diego State) and baseball's Ricky Eda (Palos Verdes, CA/LA Harbor JC) received the Dr. Hal Charnofsky CSUDH Memorial Scholar Athletes of the Year for their successful work in the classroom, while baseball's Jose Montes (Pacoima, CA/San Fernando HS) and women's soccer Kristen Walsh (Lakewood, CA/Mayfair HS) were chosen as the CSUDH representatives for the CCAA Charnofsky Awards, as recognized by the CCAA league office.

Taneisha Antoine (Los Angeles, CA/Dorsey HS), another member of the softball team, received the Jennifer Winkelspecht Award, named after former Toro volleyball player Winkelspecht who passed away before the start of the 1995 season and is given annually to the Toro who most exemplifies great personal character and has had his/her achievement recognized by the student-athlete educators and peers.

Softball's Valerie Long (Stockton, CA/St. Mary's HS), the CSUDH career strikeout and win leader, and men's soccer senior defender Nathan Reeves (Lakewood, CA/Lakewood HS) were recipients of the Student-Athletes of the Year Awards.

Volleyball's Keesha Aldridge (Aiea, HI/Aiea HS) was selected for the Dr. Richard Butwell Award, the most prestigious of CSUDH's awards. The late Dr. Butwell is the former President of the University, and his award is bestowed upon the student-athlete who goes above and beyond the call of duty, not only achieving success in the classroom and on the playing field, but also is an active member of the community as a representative of Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Aldridge finished her 4th and final season in Cardinal Red & Gold, and currently is working towards a degree in liberal studies. Off the court, she twice has been selected to "Who's Who in American Universities" for her academic achievements, and is a 3-year member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee who served as the committee's president this year. The Hawaii native continually has shown dedication in service to both the University and community, consistently encouraging CSUDH student-athletes to be active in the community.

On the court, Aldridge is the CSUDH career leader in blocks and block assists, 2nd all-time in solo blocks, 4th all-time in kills and hitting percentage and 5th all-time in attacks. In addition, this 6'1" middle blocker was named a 2nd-team All-CCAA selection, the first such selection of her career.

After these awards, Athletics Director Ron Prettyman surprised baseball head coach George Wing with a plaque commemorating his 400th-career victory as skipper of the Toro baseball team, an 11-3 victory over Concordia on March 15. Prettyman then received a surprise of his own when Aldridge and Dr. Boice Bowman, CSUDH Vice-President for Student Affairs, bestowed upon the outgoing Athletics Director a plaque from the CSUDH Athletics family in thanks for 10 great years of service. Prettyman then proceeded to serenade the crowd with a favorite farewell, taken from Carol Burnett.