MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University women’s basketball guard Bria Holmes is one of 30 candidates for the 2016 Senior CLASS Award.
Presented annually, the award is given to a student-athlete who shows notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. 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.
Holmes is the second Mountaineer nominee to be named a candidate for the award. Liz Repella was a finalist in 2011 and earned a spot on the Senior CLASS All-America Second Team.
A native of New Haven, Connecticut, Holmes ranks fourth on West Virginia’s all-time scoring ledger with 1,734 points and the senior ranks in the Top 10 in 10 different career statistical categories at WVU. She has garnered multiple accolades including Preseason All-Big 12 honors and a unanimous All-Big 12 selection the past two seasons. Additionally, Holmes was a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention in 2015. Last summer, Holmes participated in the USA Basketball Pan American and World University Games Team Trials. The WVU NAACP Chapter named Holmes the NAACP Female Athlete of the Year last season.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award,” said Holmes. “I am very thankful for the support I have received from my coaches, fellow teammates and West Virginia University. I would have not been able to achieve the success I’ve had today without the support system at WVU.”
A criminology major, Holmes is a three-time Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Garret Ford Academic Honor Roll Recipient. Additionally, Holmes has participated in several community service events during her four years at West Virginia University. She has helped with the Shopping for Angels program, which gives kids an opportunity to buy essential items such as clothes and shoes during the holiday season. Holmes has visited the West Virginia University Children’s Hospital on multiple occasions to help put a smile on many young Mountaineer faces. She and her teammates have regularly practiced and coached Stepping Stones, an organization for disabled individuals. Holmes has helped raise awareness for breast cancer and participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at WVU.
Among the 60 candidates, all are in excellent academic standing with 10 having grade-point averages of 3.5 or higher. Five of this year’s candidates were 2014-15 CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-Americans®, and 20 returned to the court this season after receiving All-America honors for their performance a year ago. Each of the candidates also volunteers his or her time with charitable organizations and causes while upholding a reputation for positive character on campus and in the community.
The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four® and NCAA Women’s Final Four®.
Each of the 30 candidate classes will be narrowed to 10 finalists in February, and those 10 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 male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplify excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
