ORLANDO – In seeing its players receive the most prestigious honor that can be bestowed upon a student at UCF, the UCF softball team has now gone back-to-back.
As announced by the university Tuesday, fifth-year utility player Jada Cody has become the third player in program history, and the second in as many years, to be honored with the Order of Pegasus award, as well as the lone student-athlete to be selected in 2024.
“It was every emotion I could think of. The biggest one was excitement of how far I’ve come,” Cody said. “When I was eight years old, that was my first time speaking full sentences. I’ve always had a speech delay, so knowing that I’ve gone from that to receiving this award means a lot to me. I can’t thank my family enough for taking the time to really understand how I functioned when I was younger. Receiving this award means everything to me.”
The Order of Pegasus award is given annually to those who display incredible academic achievement, university involvement, leadership and community service, and Cody joins Shannon Doherty (2023) and Shelly Frick (2010) as the third Knights softball player to receive the honor.
“It’s such an amazing award and honor, and I’m just incredibly proud of her,” said head coach Cindy Ball-Malone of Cody. “She’s worked so hard to get to where she’s at. I know this is about Jada, but to have back-to-back Order of Pegasus awards coming from our program is pretty special, and coming from two of the most prestigious athletes I’ve coached in my career.”
The fifth-year senior has represented a pillar of the Knights’ starting lineup since her debut season in 2020. Cody has appeared in 241 of UCF’s total 245 games since her collegiate debut Feb. 6, 2020, including 239 starts following UCF’s Tuesday doubleheader against North Florida April 2, 2024, and has scattered her name across virtually every offensive career leaderboard in the program’s history.
Entering UCF’s weekend series against the BYU Cougars, Cody ranks second on the UCF all-time batting average (.335), slugging percentage (.585), runs scored (179), doubles (48), home runs (37) and RBI (167) lists, third on the all-time on-base percentage (.418) list, tied for third on the all-time hits (245) list, and fourth on the all-time triples list (12).
Her current .376 average this season would rank fourth highest in a single season in program history, and her .642 on-base percentage would rank tied for fifth highest in a single season as well.
“It means everything to be able to accomplish what I’ve done,” Cody continued. “Having the UCF fanbase support me on and off the field means a lot to me. Every day, I put my heart into everything that I can do, both academically and athletically. It’s been challenging, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
A health science and medical sociology major, Cody has also made the Dean’s List five times and earned a spot on the President’s Honor three times throughout her academic career.
“When we talk about her ability to make in-game adjustments, it takes belief, discipline and this competitive edge, drive and honor,” Ball-Malone continued. “I see her doing that in all parts and facets of her life. When a goal is set out there, she’s able to attain it because she studies how she’s going to go about it, tackle it and accomplish it. Learning those skills for when she gets into the game of life even more, she’s going to be able to approach it with the same discipline, belief, competitiveness and honor. That’s Jada.”
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