Capping off a fantastic 2023-2024 athletics season, the University St. Thomas proudly honored all competing sports at the annual Athletics Banquet. The event took place on Tuesday April 30th at Jerabeck Activity and Athletics Center and celebrated everything from the Senior Stole Ceremony to team awards. The annual event was held in person, and awards were handed out to student-athletes and coaches, highlighting accomplishments on the field, classroom and community. All attendees were treated to a speech by keynote speaker, University Chaplain, Father Eduardo Rivera to kick off the evening.
Senior Stole Ceremony:
Kicking off the festivities was the Senior Stole Ceremony. At this event, graduating seniors received their student-athlete stoles in celebration of their academic and athletic careers. St. Thomas honored a total of 35 student-athletes.
For the full gallery of banquet pictures, click here!
Celt Award:
Next came the Celt Award given to the student-athletes on each team who demonstrate a "win today" attitude. To receive this honor, the individual must exemplify good sportsmanship with their teammates, coaches, and opponents. They are reliable, hardworking and positive players who care for the success of their team.
For the full list of Celt Awards, click here!
Champions of Character:
Following this was Champions of Character, given to only one male and female student-athlete. These two individuals exemplify integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership.
This year's Male Champions of Character recipient, Jacolby Mattox, is involved with many organizations on campus. His active involvement in initiatives such as Rising Stars, Freshman Orientation, and the Black Student Union showcase his commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. Hailing from Klein Oak High School, our recipient is a junior sprinter and jumper. Beyond the track, his impact resonates throughout the campus community.
After arriving to the University of St. Thomas in the spring of 2022, our 2024 female Champions of Character award winner, Christina Stinson, made an immediate impact on our community and her team. She is a mamber of our student-athlete advisory committee, she hosts women's self defense classes and teaches youth karate. She consistently models the 5 pillars of the Champions of Character program with her teammates, on campus, and in the classroom.
Scholar Athlete:
The Scholar-Athlete Award goes to individuals who seek constant improvement in their respective sports and in the classroom. The student-athlete must have completed a minimum of three semesters at St. Thomas and have the highest GPA on their team. These award winners have worked extremely hard to receive this honor.
For the full list of Scholar Athletes, click here!
Comeback Student-Athlete of the Year:
In choosing the Comeback Athlete of the Year, our sports medicine staff—composed of Leslie Bennett, JuJuan French and Laurisa Reicke—decided on two athletes, male and female, who overcame injury to return to their sport. The adversity these individuals overcame included surgery and months of rehab to become major contributors to their teams' success.
Softball Player Alli Hughes demonstrated remarkable resilience and dedication to her craft. Following hip surgery during the offseason, she embarked on a journey of recovery, even fine-tuning her form to ensure she could compete at the highest levels of the sport. Returning to the circle with unwavering determination, she also became an instrumental leader for her team this year. Her performance has been nothing short of exceptional, with an impressive tally of 10 complete games and 11 wins in just her sophomore year. Posting a season ERA of 3.24 and notching 49 strikeouts, she stands as a formidable force.
Baseball Player Lance Khan not only staged a triumphant return to the diamond but also in life. At the age of 19, he faced a daunting battle with cancer, undergoing multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Through unwavering support from our Celt family, this tenacious student-athlete emerged victorious over cancer in 2023. With relentless determination and the support of our training room and numerous doctors, he made a remarkable recovery, donning his uniform to grace the field this season.
Most Valuable Player:
The MVP on each team can seem to spring from the obvious—the person who records the most points, runs, kills or goals, plays #1 singles, shoots the lowest score or runs the fastest time. However, for coaches, teammates and anyone who has spent a lot of time on or around a team, we know it involves a lot more. It tends to also be a team leader who pushes teammates in a positive direction. Decided by the coaches, the honored student-athlete is one who helps make the team tick and is an integral part of success.
For the full list of MVPs, click here!
Marjorie Evans Female Student-Athlete of the Year
In 2006 the University of St. Thomas longtime supporter Marjorie Evans gave the initial gift that launched UST Volleyball and ultimately the University of St. Thomas Athletic Department. Ms. Evans has continued to support the Celts, in particular, our women's athletic programs. It is because of her that we dedicate the female student-athlete of the Year award in her name.
This year's recipient was softball player Chloe Bennett. For the full release, click here!
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
For the first time in school history, a back-to-back Male Student-Athlete was crowned. Senior Calvin Williams IV of Men's Basketball was named Male Student-Athlete of the year.
For the full release, click here!
For the full gallery of banquet pictures, click here!
