NORFOLK, Va. – Senior outfielder Morgan Boyd of the Norfolk State softball team was named a candidate for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award® for Division I collegiate softball on Thursday.

Boyd is one of 30 candidates who was named to the preseason list of the award, which honors senior student-athletes who have excelled on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

A second-team all-MEAC performer last year, Boyd has been a staple in the NSU lineup thanks to her ability to get on base and utilize her speed on the basepaths. The native of Chesapeake, Va., finished 24^th in the nation in stolen bases per game last year and 38^th in runs scored. She is primed to become NSU’s all-time hits leader in 2014.

Boyd was named to the MEAC All-Academic teams in both years she was eligible as a sophomore and junior.

The candidate class for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award® will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series® in Oklahoma City May 29 through June 4.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards a senior season can bring. Premier Sports Management owns and manages the award.

For more information on all the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.