Feb. 20, 2008

Fayetteville, NC - The Fayetteville State University Athletic Department will recognize student-athlete and United States soldier Shacovia Sheppard during halftime of the last home basketball of the season versus Livingstone College.

Sheppard, a 5-10, junior forward for the Lady Broncos, is also a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves. For the second time since signing up in 2004 to finance her college education, the 22-year-old from Charleston, S.C., is being called to duty with her unit, the 941st Transportation Company.

During Sheppard's first deployment to Iraq in 2005, she spent 15 months there serving as a gunner protecting convoys carrying fuel to troops.

Sheppard will not complete her academic course load at Fayetteville State for the 2008 spring semester and miss this year's CIAA Women's Basketball Tournament held in Charlotte, NC due to her departure.

The Lady Broncos' forward has started in 15 of her 19 games played and is currently averaging 7.2 points per game and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Tip-off for the women's game is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Thursday, February 21st. Sheppard and the Lady Broncos will be looking to improve in the standings against divisional opponent Livingstone College. The FSU family will recognize Sheppard and her heroism at halftime of the men's game, which begins at 7:30 pm.