ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) – Two outstanding graduating UCF student-athletes—volleyball player Alli Sabol and football player Kyle Benkel—are among 24 UCF students this week named to the Order of Pegasus, the most prestigious honor presented to students at the University.
This is the fifth consecutive year with student-athletes among the recipients and the fourth time in the last five years with multiple honorees from UCF athletics.
Undergraduate students are selected based on academic achievement, university involvement, leadership and community service. Graduate students additionally are chosen based on publication or research experiences.
This year's recipients will be honored at 5 p.m. April 6, at a ceremony in the Pegasus Ballroom.
The names and pictures of the recipients will be added to the wall showcasing past and present Order of Pegasus recipients in the Pegasus Lounge on the second floor of the Student Union. Inductees also receive commemorative medals and scholarships from Student Government.
From Columbus, Ohio, Sabol graduated in December with a 3.91 GPA and a degree in marketing from the College of Business. She hopes to become a branding professional for a consumer products company.
From Winter Park, Florida, Benkel is graduating in May with a 3.93 and a degree in biomedical science from the College of Medicine and the Burnett Honors College. He hopes to begin medical school next fall and eventually become an orthopedic surgeon.
This year's two dozen inductees include seven LEAD Scholars, five President's Leadership Council members, seven Student Government leaders, 11 Burnett Honors College scholars, three Greek members, two student-athletes and three transfer students, including one as a master's degree student. Their collective grade-point average is 3.88.
Here is additional biographical detail on the two UCF student-athlete winners:
* Alli Sabol
--Four-year member of UCF volleyball team (2016-19)
--Helped Knights to American Athletic Conference championships and NCAA Championship appearances in both 2018 and 2019
--Two-year member of UCF Student Athlete Advisory Committee (including marketing committee head/brand manager)
--Intern in UCF Athletics Communication Department (2019)
--Four-year coach at UCF Volleyball Camp
--Active as volunteer with Boys and Girls Club of Orlando, KnightThon, Relay for Life, Orlando Community Garden Build, Hurricane Harvey Clothing Drive, UCF Arboretum Gardening, Veteran's Affairs Community Center, Florida Children's Hospital, Orlando MLK Day of Service, Jackson Heights Middle School FCA startup and Faine House Gala
--Made service trip to Costa Rica with Volunteer UCF
--Two-time Dean's List and President's Honor Roll selection
--Three-time AAC All-Academic Team selection
--Three-time AVCA Team Academic Award
--Two-time AAC Team Academic Excellence Award
* Kyle Benkel
--Four-year member of UCF football team as wide receiver (2016-19)
--Four-time AAC All-Academic Team selection
--UCF Football Academic Excellence Award recipient (2017)
--Burnett Medical Scholar selection (2016-2020)
--Dr. O.M. "Budd" Berringer Pre-Health Professions Endowed Scholarship recipient (2019)
--UCF Alumni Legacy Scholarship recipient (2019)
--Florida Bright Scholars recipient (2016-20)
--Dean's List (2016-20)
--Active as volunteer with Advent Health Hospital, St. Margaret Mary Catholic School (mentor for students with disabilities), National Guard dinner and Second Harvest food bank
--Has performed clinical shadowing at Jewett Orthopedic Clinic and worked as undergraduate observer at General Pediatrics Clinic in Oviedo, Florida
--Working as undergraduate research assistant in laboratory of Dr, Melanie Beazley while working on projects dealing with microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in marine environments
Here is a complete list of all UCF student-athletes who have been named to the Order of Pegasus:
2001- Sarah Kureshi – Track and Field
2010 - Shelly Frick – Softball
2010 - T.J. Harnden – Football
2011 - Brennan Dobbins – Baseball
2013 - Kayli Keough – Women's Basketball
2013 - Chelsey Lauzon – Rowing
2014 - Kaye-Alese Green – Volleyball
2016 - Arjun Watane – Men's Tennis
2016 - Joey Grant – Football
2017 - Halle Scott – Volleyball
2018 - Anthony Catotti – Men's Basketball
2018 - Bailey Ranson – Track and Field
2018 - Taylor Wickey – Volleyball
2018 - Matthew Wright – Football
2019 - Angelo Baldado – Spirit - Team Knightro
2019 - Adrienne Li – Women's Soccer
2020 – Kyle Benkel – Football
2020 – Alli Sabol - Volleyball
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