July 28, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
In basketball, point guards are responsible for directing the offense, guiding their teammates and serving as an extension of the coach on the court. With the exemplary leadership skills and energy she brings to the court, Illinois State women's basketball head coach Robin Pingeton has named Tiffany Hudson as the recipient of the 2006 Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholarship.
"I am extremely proud of Tiffany not only for her accomplishments on the court but in the classroom as well," Pingeton said. "She epitomizes the true meaning of a student-athlete, and is a tremendous role model for all Illinois State University students."
The Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholarship is named in honor of an avid Redbird women's basketball and volleyball fan. Jan, and her husband, Fred, had several seasons where they attended every Redbird contest - home and away - in both sports. When Jan passed away in 1997, Fred and a group of more than 50 friends and family members began the endowment. It is awarded annually to a deserving women's basketball or volleyball student-athlete.
During the 2005-06 season, Hudson stepped into a starting role when the Redbird roster was shortened due to injuries. After serving primarily as a backup point guard, the Naperville, Ill., native started the final 18 games of the campaign, averaging 5.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game. Hudson's ball-handling abilities have helped her achieve a 1.32 assist/turnover ratio for her career, which ranks No. 5 in Redbird history.
"I'm delighted to receive this award. It's always an honor any time you receive recognition like this," Hudson said. "I just want to thank the Aelligs for being such great supporters of women's basketball and Illinois State. Our fans, like the Aelligs, are what make Redbird Arena such a great place to play."
The Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholarship is one of 14 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes funded by private donors. Though not one of the eight fully-funded endowed scholarships at Illinois State University, the Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholarship provides significant support. For more information about supporting this, or other Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, contact The Redbird Club office at 309/438-3803.
Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholars
2006 Tiffany Hudson basketball
2005 Emily Kabbes volleyball
2004 Katie Donovan basketball
2003 Amber Rogers volleyball
