FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2009

For more information:
Bob Edwards
Public Relations Department Assistant
Glenville State College
Glenville, West Virginia
(304) 462-7361x7610

Glenville, WV--Glenville State College will present the 2009 Clarissa Williams and Frank Montrose Awards during pre-game festivities of the Pioneer Homecoming Football game with West Virginia Wesleyan College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24th at Morris Stadium.

Candace White-Young of Winona, West Virginia is the 2009 recipient of the Clarissa Williams Award given to the top female athlete who graduated during the previous academic year. The Williams Award was established in 1983 and is named for Miss Clarissa Williams, an Associate Professor of Physical Education at GSC. She began her career at the college in 1947 and served as cheerleader sponsor until her retirement in 1964.

White-Young was a four-year starter at catcher and a three-year captain for the GSC softball team. She was awarded all conference honors during her sophomore and junior years. White-Young hit two walk-off homeruns to beat Seton Hill and Alderson-Broaddus during the 2009 season and was a key in the Lady Pioneer’s runner-up finish in the WVIAC Tournament. She was also an outstanding student receiving the WVIAC BB&T Student Athlete of the Year Award. Her GPA was 3.89. “I am very proud of the career that Candace had at GSC. She was my very first recruit after being named the Head Coach of the Pioneer Softball team. Candace has been a great leader on the field and in the classroom. She is very deserving of this honor,” said GSC Softball Coach Rick Moore. She graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science and is currently pursuing employment in her field. White-Young married Eric Young in July and is the daughter of Tracy and Robert Grimmett and Bob and Shirley Flanagan of Winona.

Steven Blake, a native of Cameron, West Virginia is the 2009 recipient of the Frank Montrose Award. The Frank Montrose Award is given each year during Homecoming to a graduate of the preceding class who not only was an outstanding athlete but also a scholar, a leader, and a person of high moral character. Established in 1952, this award is named for Frank Montrose who came to Glenville in the fall of 1939 from Richwood High School where he had established himself as a grid great under the guidance of former Pioneer, Coach ‘Babe’ Jones. Shortly before final examinations in the spring of his freshman year, Frank went blind. A month later, on June 21, 1940, the 21 year old Montrose died in a Baltimore hospital, a victim of nephritis.

Blake lettered all four years as a member of the Pioneer Track team. During his career he competed in the shot put, discus, javelin, and hammer throw. He qualified for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship meet all four years. He was chosen as a Captain of the Pioneer Track team in his senior year. “Steven was one of the hardest working, well-mannered, and positive members of the team throughout his career. He was a true competitor in every sense of the word,” said GSC Track Coach Cam Perry. In addition, Blake was a member of the Pioneer Football team for two years. He also was a volunteer with the Gilmer County High School Track team for the past two seasons, helping coach the shot put and discus. Blake graduated in May of 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education with a specialization in Math (5-Adult). He currently lives in Moundsville, West Virginia and is teaching Math at Tyler Consolidated High School. He is the son of Gerald H. Blake II and Debra Blake of Cameron.