Charlotte, N.C. (May 27, 2008) -- Coleman Lew & Associates, Inc., a national executive search firm, and the Southern Conference, the nation's fifth oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association, announced the selection of 21 student athletes as recipients of the third annual Coleman Lew Leadership Award.

The award recognizes scholar-athletes from each of the Southern Conference's 11 member institutions. Coaches, faculty athletic representatives and senior woman administrators nominate prospective candidates based on leadership, academic excellence and athletic achievement in both the college environment and the community. Athletic directors and representatives from Coleman Lew & Associates conducted one-on-one interviews with the finalists before determining the award recipients.

The award winners are given congratulatory plaques to recognize their achievements. During their search for post-graduation employment, each of the award winners has access to Coleman Lew consultants for advice and counseling. Coleman Lew prepares the students' profiles based on their individual interviews and resumes, and provides this information to a list of well respected companies. To these companies, the award winners represent the pre-screened, highly-qualified group of successful student-athletes graduating from fine educational institutions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.

Recipients will be recognized at the Southern Conference Honors Dinner on Wednesday, May 28 at the Crowne Plaza Resort in Hilton Head, S.C.

According to Kenneth D.Carrick, Jr., partner-managing director, "Our firm, as an education partner with the Southern Conference, is proud to present the Coleman Lew Leadership Award to these outstanding student-athletes. These individuals represent the best in academic performance, athletic skill and leadership ability."

John Iamarino, conference commissioner said, "We are proud to once again work with Coleman Lew & Associates to recognize the bright young leaders of tomorrow who populate Southern Conference teams. These young men and women represent the leadership qualities that all collegiate institutions strive to instill in their students."

The 2008 Coleman Lew Leadership Award recipients are:

Coleman Lew & Associates, Inc., founded in 1979 and headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a national retained executive search firm that recruits board members, officers and senior level executives for national and international companies, academic institutions and non-profit organization. The firm also provides customized leadership development services to organizations seeking to maximize corporate performance. Member, Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC).

The Southern Conference is the nation's fifth-oldest NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association. The Southern Conference has excelled as the premier football championship subdivision conference. The league sponsors championships in 19 sports including: men's and women's cross country, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, football, men's and women's indoor track & field, men's and women's basketball, wrestling, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's outdoor track & field, softball and baseball.