ORLANDO – The 2024 Swords Awards were held on Tuesday night, celebrating another successful academic and athletic year by UCF student-athletes.
The annual tradition of recognizing the Knights for their accomplishments in and out of competition saw student-athletes, coaches, staff and members of the Shareholders Society gather at Addition Financial Arena.
The first award of the evening was the Freshman of the Year, which recognized one male and one female true or redshirt freshmen student-athletes making significant contributions to the team by demonstrating outstanding work ethic and high performance in the classroom and field of play. Women's Golf’s Molly Smith and football's John Walker were tabbed as the 2024 recipients.
The Newcomer of the Year recognizes a first-year transfer student-athlete who makes significant contributions to the team by demonstrating outstanding work ethic and high performance in the classroom and field of play. The 2024 honorees were Sarah Willis (softball) and Jaylin Sellers (men's soccer).
The Heart of the Knight is awarded to the student-athlete who is the true embodiment of a team player, as exemplified by the contribution and inspiration provided to the team. The 2024 recipients were Caroline DeLisle (women's soccer) and Robbie Soronellas (men's soccer).
Recognizing student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom, in the field of play and in the community, the Noble Knight was awarded to volleyball's Chloe Scheer and spirit team's Austin Bennett.
The Shareholder's Society Donor of the Year was awarded to Taylor Gerring, who recently pledged $5.5 million to UCF Athletics.
The Dr. Bill Callarman Perseverance Award, which is named after UCF's former NCAA Faculty Representative. The award recognizes a graduating student-athlete whose determination and perseverance in overcoming obstacles academically, athletically, or even personally, is a testament to their tremendous character. Women’s tennis’ Donatella Guarnieri and the men's tennis team were the recipients.
The Dr. Richard Lapchick Servant Leader Award, which measures both athletic and academic achievements, along with community service, was presented to Angelina DeVoe (softball) and football’s William Wells.
The football team earned the Excalibur Cup Award, which encompasses great community service, leadership development, academic and athletic excellence and support and pride for their peers' events.
Volleyball took home the highest female team GPA (3.641), while the men's golf team held the highest male team GPA (3.479).
Named after Dr. John C. Hitt, who served as UCF's president for 26 years, the Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognizes a graduating student-athlete who exemplifies outstanding scholarly achievement through excellence in academics, leadership, participation, and performance. Jada Cody (softball) and Stephen Martin (football) were the 2024 honorees.
After leading her squad to its fourth National Championship in the Division 1A Coed Cheer division, UCF Hall of Famer Linda Gooch was named the Swords Awards Coach of the Year.
The Athlete of the Year is awarded to the student-athlete making the greatest contribution to the team in excellence, leadership, participation and performance. The 2024 recipients were track and field's Rayniah Jones and football’s RJ Harvey.
The evening concluded with the Moment of the Year, which was voted on by UCF student-athletes. The cheerleading team's National Championship routine took home the women's honor, while the men’s basketball team’s victory over No. 3 Kansas in its Big 12 home opener took the top honor on the men's side.
The following is a look at the awards that were handed out Tuesday night:
Freshman of the Year
Female: Molly Smith, Women’s Golf
Male: John Walker, Football
Newcomer of the Year
Female: Sarah Willis, Softball
Male: Jaylin Sellers, Men's Basketball
Heart of the Knight
Female: Caroline DeLisle, Women’s Soccer
Male: Robbie Soronellas, Men’s Soccer
Noble Knight
Female: Chloe Scheer, Volleyball
Male: Austin Bennett, Spirit
Shareholders Society Donor of the Year
Taylor Gerring
Dr. Bill Callarman Perseverance Award
Female: Donatella Guarnieri, Women’s Tennis
Male: Men’s Tennis Team
Dr. Richard Lapchick Servant Leader Award
Female: Angelina DeVoe, Softball
Male: William Wells, Football
Excalibur Cup
Football
Highest Team GPA
Volleyball
Men's Golf
Dr. John C. Hitt Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Female: Jada Cody, Softball
Male: Stephen Martin, Football
Coach of the Year
Linda Gooch, Spirit
Athlete of the Year
Female: Rayniah Jones, Track & Field
Male: RJ Harvey, Football
Moment of the Year
Female: Cheerleading’s National Championship Routine
Male: Men’s Basketball’s victory against No. 3 Kansas in its Big 12 home opener