CIAA Sponsorship

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is an athletic conference consisting of 10 historically African-American institutions of higher education.

Food Lion has been an Official Corporate Partner of the CIAA for 17 years. Through this relationship, Food Lion has provided scholarships to deserving students at historically black colleges and universities.

The History of the Central Intercollegiate
Athletic Association

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is an athletic conference consisting of 10 historically African-American institutions of higher education: Bowie State University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s College, Saint Paul’s College, Shaw University, Virginia State University and Virginia Union University, all working together to set an overall standard of excellence.

CIAA 2008Food Lion has been an Official Corporate Partner of the CIAA for over 15 years. Through this relationship, Food Lion has provided scholarships to deserving students at historically black colleges and universities. Food Lion is proud to be the title sponsor of the Food Lion CIAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Each year, Food Lion builds on this partnership and long-standing relationship with the CIAA Tournament.

Established in 1912, the CIAA is the nation’s oldest historically black college and university athletic conference, rich in history and heritage. The presence of the CIAA as a premiere member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II, continues to expand throughout the country. Expansion of television broadcasts has resulted in nationwide coverage of football and basketball contests, as well as the annual CIAA Basketball Tournament. Increasing competitiveness in other sports is also leading to recognition of CIAA member schools as athletic powerhouses. The reputation, in conjunction with the academic success of its athletes, is a proud legacy for the CIAA.

The CIAA is divided into Eastern and Western Divisions in all of its team sports, except baseball, and sponsors 16 annual championships.

The men’s championships are cross-country, basketball, football, indoor/outdoor track and field, golf, baseball and tennis. The women’s championships are bowling, cross-country, basketball, indoor/outdoor track and field, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Visit the official CIAA website