By Emmanuel Freeman
NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University has received two of the top awards from HBCU DIGEST this year. President Glenda Glover was named HBCU Female President of the Year, while Christion Abercrombie was selected Male Athlete of the Year.
Glover received the coveted award Aug. 2 at the ninth annual HBCU Digest Awards in Baltimore. She also accepted the award on behalf of the TSU standout who continues to recover from an on-the-field injury.
Glover, the eighth and first female president of TSU, was presented with the awards during the ceremony in the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture.
“I am extremely honored that HBCU Digest named me HBCU Female President of the Year, and Christian Abercrombie of Tennessee State University Male Athlete of the Year,” Glover said. “I expressed to the audience that it is working through challenges that defines leaders. This is not my recognition alone. I’m truly grateful and appreciate the support of the entire TSU family. Thank you all for your support.”
Glover, who reached out to Abercrombie’s family with the news of him being named Male Athlete of the Year, said, “Christion Abercrombie is a walking miracle.”
“It’s only fitting that he should be named the HBCU Digest Awards’ Male Athlete of the Year,” Glover said. “His perseverance, as well as his incredible spirit, is an inspiration to anyone going through adversity. He is proof that you can make it, if you just have faith, and believe.”
Abercrombie suffered a severe brain injury Sept. 29, 2018, during a game against Vanderbilt.
His mother, Stacie Abercrombie, thanked President Glover for reaching out to her with the news.
“It is amazing; it just shows that God is still in control,” Staci said. “Christion is very thankful that he is being acknowledged in such a way.”
Head TSU football coach Roderick Reed said he was not surprised that Abercrombie received the award.
“Even before the incident,” Reed said, referring to Abercrombie’s injury, “he was always an outstanding character with outstanding leadership.”
“I think any award he gets is richly deserved,” Reed added.
In winning the two top awards, TSU was a finalist in 11 categories of this year’s HBCU Digest Awards.
TSU has won several HBCU Digest awards in the past three years, including Best Marching Band, for the Aristocrat of Bands; Best Student Organization, the TSU Collegiate Citizens Police Academy; Best Alumnus, James Shaw Jr.; Best STEM Program, the College of Engineering; Alumna of the Year, Dr. Edith P. Mitchell; Female Coach of the Year, Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice; Female Team of the Year, Women’s Basketball Team; and Best Student Organization, Student Activities.
