Monday, May 7, 2012
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – (May 7, 2012) – Kimberly Conway Dumpson, Director of Alumni Affairs and Planned Giving , has been named “Hawk of the Year” by the UMES athletics department.
Dumpson was recognized May 1 during the annual Athletic Awards banquet, where Andre Walsh won Male Athlete of the Year honors and Lénora Guion-Firmin and T’nia Falbo shared the Female Athlete of the Year award. All three student-athletes are juniors.
“Hawk of the Year” is the athletic department’s highest honor. Since joining UMES in 2005, Dumpson has played a vital role cultivating relationships with alumni, especially former-athletes who have reconnected with their alma mater. Attendance at homecoming, pledges, donations and ticket sales have all increased during her tenure. Dumpson serves on the UMES Hall of Fame committee, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament Committee and helped in promoting the athletic brand on campus, around Delmarva and among alumni.
“She does so much more than we can describe,” athletics director Keith Davidson said. “She has wonderful ideas, gives her time willingly and has really impacted every student-athlete, past and present, whether they know her personally or not.”
Walsh (St. Catherine, Jamaica) was named a Second-Team All-America selection by the U.S Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). He finished 11th in the 200-meter run at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships and finished that season with the eighth fastest time in the country in that event. He recently set the school record for the 100-meter dash in outdoor competition.
Guion-Firmin (Le Martinique, France) was named a First-Team All-America selection by USTFCCA for finishing seventh in the 400-meter run at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships. She currently has the 10th fastest time in the nation in that event for the outdoor season. Guion-Firmin set the UMES outdoor record in the 200-meter run in April.
Falbo (Greensburg, Pa.) was a two-time All-America honoree, getting a third-team honor from the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) and an honorable mention for the College Bowler of the Year from the Bowling Writers Association of America. She was named Most Outstanding Performer for the 2012 NCAA Championships as anchor of the team that won its second consecutive national title. She was named MEAC Player of the Year and finished the season with an average just under 204, a team high.
Junior Anggie Ramirez (Bogota, Colombia) from women’s bowling was recognized for being named an All-America selection for the 2011-2012 athletic year.
Director’s Awards also went to senior Karim Gonzalez (Mexico City, Mexico) from baseball and sophomore Megan Buja (Rockford, Ill.) from women’s bowling were named Scholar-Athletes of the Year for their grade point average and academic honors.
Senior Tyler Hines (Sicklerville, N.J.) from men’s basketball and senior Rebecca Prado (Annandale, N.J.) from women’s volleyball earned the Josten’s Award for Sportsmanship, given to athletes who are good teammates, successful academically, participate in community service and are shining examples for their team and the university.
Bill Robinson, director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-621-2355.
Stan Bradley, Associate Director of Athletics for External Affairs & Media Relations, 410-651-6499
