FERRIS STATE ATHLETICS TO MAKE SPECIAL PRESENTATION DURING THIS THURSDAY'S BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER

Annual Bulldog Award Will Officially Be Renamed In Honor Of Dean Davenport

Dec. 5, 2005

The Ferris State University Athletics Department will make a special presentation in conjunction with the school's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) doubleheader versus West Michigan archrival Grand Valley State Thursday, Dec. 8, in FSU's Jim Wink Arena at Big Rapids, Mich.

Between the women's and men's games, the school's “Bulldog of the Year” Award will officially be renamed in honor of former FSU Athletics Director Dean Davenport. Davenport and his wife, Joyce, will also help unveil a plaque featuring an all-time list of those presented with the award. The plaque will be put up on permanent display in the lobby between Wink Arena and the Ewigleben Ice Arena following the ceremony.

The award, which was reinstated in the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence, is presented annually to the most outstanding Ferris State male and female student-athlete. Award criteria consists of strong athletic achievements (must be a letterwinner and achieve outstanding athletic accomplishment), strong individual character and academic achievement.

Davenport, who served in the position from 1979-93, was instrumental in the planning of the FSU Sports Complex, the growth of women's intercollegiate athletics, the emergence of Ferris' NCAA Division I men's ice hockey program and the development of the athletics scholarship program. He also led the athletics department to 14 consecutive GLIAC President's Cup Championships. Davenport initially founded the "Bulldog of the Year" Award at Ferris State during his tenure.

"Ferris State University and the FSU Athletics Department are extremely grateful to Dean Davenport for his years of dedication and service to the Bulldog athletics program," said Ferris Associate Athletic Director for Advancement Brian Kegler. "Dean was instrumental in the success of Bulldog Athletics during his tenure as the Athletics Director and remains so today as a valuable volunteer.

"It seems only fitting this award is named in his honor. He has always been a deeply caring individual committed to bringing out the best in student-athletes."

The 2004-05 recipients of the award will also be recognized during the evening ceremony. Men's basketball guard Carlton Epps (Benton Harbor) and women's volleyball outside hitter Karla Fairbanks (Rogers City), who were both seniors during the 2004-05 athletics season, were selected as the school's 2004-05 Dean Davenport “Bulldog of the Year” Award winners by a FSU Athletics Department committee.

A two-time (2004-05) All-GLIAC North Division First Team honoree, Epps concluded his collegiate career ranked among the school's all-time leaders in scoring (1,544), rebounds (454), steals (270), assists (250), free throw percentage (.820), three-point field goal percentage (.426), made three-pointers (240) and blocked shots (53). In addition to posting school career records for three-pointers and steals, he also notched single-season marks with 102 treys, 95 steals and a .883 free throw percentage in 2004-05. Epps became only the sixth player in Bulldog history to score over 600 points in a campaign last season as he finished the year with 602 total points.

The two-time (2003-04) GLIAC North Division All-Defensive Team pick also attained Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region First Team kudos in addition to being named to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional All-Tournament Team and the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division II Great Lakes Region All-District First Team. A team captain, Epps guided the Bulldog men's basketball team to a runner-up finish in the 2005 NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Tournament (March 12-15) held in Findlay, Ohio. The Bulldogs also won their second-straight GLIAC North Division Championship and concluded the 2004-05 season with a 24-7 overall record. FSU's 24 victories represented the third-most wins in school history.

A 2004 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-America Second-Team honoree, Fairbanks concluded her career ranked third on Ferris' all-time chart with 1,649 career kills. The 5-11 Fairbanks posted 20 or more kills in 15 of her last 23 appearances during the fall 2004 season while totaling a personal career-high 538 kills. She was 53 digs away from becoming only the sixth player in school history to record both 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. In addition, Fairbanks netted 185 career service aces and ranks fourth on FSU’s all-time list. A two-time (2003-04) All-GLIAC First Team honoree, Fairbanks placed second overall among the league leaders in kills (4.85 kpg) and third in aces (0.59 apg) as a senior. She was named GLIAC North Division Player of the Week four times in 2004 and garnered NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region All-Tournament Team recognition. She previously was chosen as a 2003 AVCA Honorable Mention All-America pick.

Fairbanks helped guide the Bulldogs to a 25-7 overall record during the 2004 campaign, including a second place 14-4 GLIAC North Division mark. FSU, which won its first-ever GLIAC Tournament title in 2004, also advanced to the NCAA-II National Tournament for the 12th time in school history.

Thursday's women's game tips off at 6 p.m. (EST) with the men's contest to follow at approximately 8 p.m. (EST). Individual game tickets to FSU regular-season home basketball games can be obtained at the door or by calling the Bulldog Athletics Ticket Office at (231) 591-2888.