VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Hampton University won its ninth consecutive Mary McLeod Bethune-Cookman Women's All-Sports Award and Norfolk State captured its sixth consecutive Talmadge Layman Hill Men's Award, the league announced on Friday.
Each institution was presented a $20,000 check during a reception at the Norfolk Marriott Waterside Hotel on Wednesday evening.
"I would like to congratulate Hampton University and Norfolk State University for winning the 2010 MEAC All-Sports Award which demonstrates the overall strengths of their respective men's and women's athletic programs," said MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas. "I commend both Hampton and Norfolk State's administrators, coaches, student-athletes, and support staff for an outstanding athletic season."
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore was also recognized during the reception as the 2009 recipient of the MEAC Highest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) Award. In addition to the recognition, UMES was presented a check for $10,000. UMES' 77-percent GSR is the highest among any MEAC institution spanning the 1999-2002 cohorts.
"I would also like to congratulate the University of Maryland Eastern Shore for achieving the Highest Graduation Success rate in the MEAC," stated Thomas. "I applaud UMES for making a commitment to the student-athletes academic success and their ultimate collegiate goal of obtaining a college degree."
Hampton women's programs totaled 74.5 points in the All-Sports tally. The Lady Pirates won conference titles in Women's Outdoor Track and Field and finished as runners-up in Women's Indoor Track and Field and Women's Tennis. Hampton also earned the 2010 Women's Basketball Tournament title and the MEAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
North Carolina A&T finished second on the women's side with 68.5 points. The NSU women's programs finished third with 68 points, followed by Howard with 65.
The NSU Spartans men's programs earned conference titles in all three tracks including Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor track and Field and finished third in football and baseball. The Spartans totaled 70 points eclipsing their closest challenge by 15 points. 
Delaware State finished second with 55 points on the men's side followed by Hampton (46.5), Florida A&M (44.5), and South Carolina State (44).
Points are awarded in a descending order beginning with 12 points for champions or first place regular season finishes. The second place teams get 10 points. Tied teams split the total points.
Hampton has won 12 overall All-Sports trophies since joining the MEAC in 1996 (three men's awards including back-to-back victories in 2003 and 2004, and nine women's awards, dating back to 2002). Norfolk State, which joined the conference in 1997, won its first men's trophy in 2001 and boasts seven total awards.
The Mary McLeod Bethune and Talmadge Layman Hill Awards
The Mary McLeod Bethune Award, named after the founder of Bethune-Cookman College, awards the top overall women's athletic program during the course of one full academic year. The first Mary McLeod Bethune award was giving in 1987 to Delaware State University. Florida A&M (1993-2000) and Hampton leads all MEAC schools with nine Women's Awards. The men's All-Sports Award is named after the late Talmadge Layman Hill, a former player and coach at Morgan State, and former Chairman of the MEAC Steering and Planning Committee, as well as the conference's first President. Howard University was the recipient of the first Talmadge Layman Hill Award in 1972. South Carolina State holds the men's record with 11 awards from 1973-84.
NCAA Graduation Success Rate
The NCAA Graduation Success Rate was developed in response to college and university presidents who wanted graduation data that more accurately reflect the mobility among college students today. The GSR improves on the federally mandated graduation rate by including students who were omitted from the federal calculation.
Click here to download the All-Sports Tally.