SAVANNAH—Armstrong Atlantic State University senior softball standout Shelby Duff has been awarded the first B.J. Ford Degree Completion Scholarship for the upcoming 2013-14 academic year, the AASU athletic department announced Wednesday.

The scholarship, established last year in honor of the head coach for the inaugural women’s basketball and softball teams at Armstrong, B.J. Ford, will allow Duff to complete her degree in radiologic sciences in May 2014. The scholarship was funded initially through the Treasure Walk for Women’s Athletics in October of 2012 and continues to build support throughout the Armstrong and Savannah community.

To be eligible for the scholarship, student-athletes must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade-point average, be within 32 credit hours of completion and in academic good standing while participating for one of the six women’s sports offered at Armstrong – soccer, basketball, tennis, softball, golf and volleyball.

Duff, a Springfield native, finished her career as the all-time doubles leader in Armstrong softball history while ranking second in at-bats, hits, runs scored and career batting average.

A two-time Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American in her four years at AASU, Duff was instrumental in the Pirates’ success on the softball field that included two Peach Belt Conference championships the last two seasons and an NCAA Southeast Region and semifinalist finish in 2013.

"I am very honored to be receiving this scholarship in honor of Ms. B.J. Ford," Duff said. "I appreciate everything she has done for our program and for Armstrong athletics as a whole. I had a great experience at Armstrong as well as a wonderful athletic career."

"When the alumni approached me about creating a scholarship in Coach Ford’s name, they established it with great enthusiasm and commitment which allowed us to award a scholarship for this upcoming academic year," Armstrong athletic director Lisa Sweany said. "I cannot think of a more deserving candidate than Shelby Duff to be our first recipient of the B.J. Ford Degree Completion Scholarship. Shelby epitomizes everything that Coach Ford worked so hard to establish here at Armstrong for her student-athletes, and that we hope to continue to provide for future Pirates in her honor."

The 2013 Treasure Walk for Women’s Athletics to benefit the B.J. Ford Scholarship will be on Oct. 26.