Cheek Named One of 10 Finalists for Lowe's Senior Class Award

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DURHAM, N.C. - Duke University senior Joy Cheek has been named one of 10 finalists for the Lowe's Senior Class Award, which was released on Wednesday. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom, character, community and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School^TM, the Lowe's 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 finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 men's candidates and 30 women's candidates who were announced in October.

Cheek, who is a product of Charlotte, N.C., has started all 21 contests on the season for the sixth-ranked Blue Devils. She is averaging 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Her 10.3 points ranks second on the Duke squad. Cheek has also notched 10 games with double-figure scoring and three with double-digit rebounds.

Nationwide balloting begins immediately to determine the winner. Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the Senior CLASS Award winner during the 2010 NCAA Women's Final Four in early April.

The women's finalists for 2009-10 are: Jayne Appel, Stanford University; Amy Beggin, University of New Mexico; Joy Cheek, Duke University; Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee State University; Tyra Grant,
Pennsylvania State University; Kelsey Griffin, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Allison Hightower, Louisiana State University; Ashley Houts, University of Georgia; Ashley Sweat, Kansas State University; and Bianca Thomas, University of Mississippi.

Cheek has not only made a difference on the court but also in the classroom and in the community. She was named to the ACC Honor Roll as a junior. Cheek has worked with a group of girls at the Emily K Center and performed Read with the Blue Devils where they go to local elementary schools and read to children. She has also made visits to the Ronald McDonald House and the Durham Soup Kitchen. While an intern at the White House this summer, Cheek and the other interns did a book drive for the local community.

These 10 names will be placed on the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award basketball ballot for a nationwide vote beginning today and concluding March 22. Fan balloting will be available on the award's official Web site, http://www.seniorCLASSaward.com, as well as through text messaging. Fans can text WBBALL to 74567 to vote for women's finalists. These votes will be combined with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.

This marks the ninth year for the basketball division of the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. Previous winners of the men's basketball award include Juan Dixon of Maryland (2002), David West of Xavier (2003), Jameer Nelson of St. Joseph's (2004), Wayne Simien of Kansas (2005), J.J. Redick of Duke (2006), Alando Tucker of Wisconsin (2007), Shan Foster of Vanderbilt (2008) and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina (2009). Past recipients of the women's award include Sue Bird of Connecticut (2002), LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State (2003), Alana Beard of Duke (2004), Kendra Wecker of Kansas State (2005), Seimone Augustus of LSU (2006), Alison Bales of Duke (2007), Candice Wiggins of Stanford (2008) and Courtney Paris of Oklahoma (2009).

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Cheek Named One of 10 Finalists for Lowe's Senior Class Award

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