University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Shawn Toney and Annika Salz with Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Joanna Hayes
Photo by: Jesus Ramirez
Bruins Honored in Inaugural Student-Athlete Awards Banquet
May 19, 2026 | Bruin Athletics
LOS ANGELES โ UCLA Athletics' finest were honored on Monday, May 18 in the inaugural Student-Athlete Awards Banquet, A Night of Championship Excellence, held in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial.ย
The awards banquet honored student-athletes for their work both on and off the playing field. Track & Field's Annika Salz and Shawn Toney received the night's top award as the Scholar-Athletes of the Year after compiling the highest cumulative GPAs among female and male graduating seniors, respectively. Basketball player Lauren Betts was selected the Female Bruin of the Year, and baseball's Roch Cholowsky was voted the Male Bruin of the Year. ย
2025-26 UCLA Student-Athlete Awards Banquet Winners
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Awarded to the female and male graduating student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA.
Annika Salz, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country (3.944 gpa, mathematics major)
Shawn Toney, Men's Track & Field (3.884 gpa, business economics major)
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Female Bruin of the Year
Lauren Betts, Women's Basketball
ย
Male Bruin of the Year
Roch Cholowsky, Baseball
ย
Female Rookie of the Year
Daphne Nakfoor, Women's Soccer
ย
Male Rookie of the Year
Juju Walls, Football
ย
Maggie Gilbert Academic Achievement Award
Given in honor of Maggie Gilbert, this award recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated significant academic growth throughout their time at UCLA. These recipients have continually developed as scholars, showing a strong commitment to improving their academic performance each year. Through perseverance, dedication, and a willingness to embrace challenges, they have strengthened their academic foundation and made meaningful progress in the classroom.
Megan Grant, Softball
Solomone Malafu, Football
ย
Rose Gilbert Community Impact Award
Given in honor of Rose Gilbert, the Rose Gilbert Community Impact Award recognizes student-athletes who use their platform to create meaningful change in their communities. A lifelong educator and advocate for student support, Rose was deeply committed to helping young people navigate challenges and reach their full potential. In that same spirit, this award celebrates student-athletes at UCLA who demonstrate leadership through service, community engagement, and the positive use of their name, image, and likeness to uplift others. Recipients embody Rose's legacy by making a lasting impact beyond competition, serving as role models who inspire, empower, and strengthen the communities around them.
Karson Gordon, Football/Track & Field
Kiki Rice, Women's Basketball
ย
Bruin Leadership Award
Through their leadership skills and initiative, the recipients of the Bruin Leadership Award are student-athletes who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a significant impact on the UCLA student-athlete experience. They have demonstrated outstanding services to others and within the community.
Andrea Djuric, Rowing
Jaiden Russell, Men's Volleyball
ย
Sportsmanship Award
The sportsmanship award recognizes a student-athlete or team who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship and ethical behavior in intercollegiate athletics, along with a demonstrated commitment to good citizenship beyond the competitive setting. They reflect the values of respect and integrity through their actions and consistently demonstrate these values in their daily participation.
Men's Volleyball
ย
OAE Pyramid of Success Award
The mission of the Office of Academic Excellence (OAE) is to empower student-athletes to maximize their educational experience as they pursue their academic and personal goals. This award reflects the mission of OAE by recognizing student-athletes who are self-sufficient learners and who embody John Wooden's definition of "success." These students demonstrate outstanding character and successfully found a true balance between excelling both academically and athletically.
Sam Yoon, Football
Taylor Smith, Women's Water Polo
ย
UCLA All-Academic Team
The UCLA All-Academic Team is comprised of the person from each team with the highest cumulative GPA.
Michael Barnett, Baseball
Eric Dailey Jr., Men's Basketball
Amanda Muse, Women's Basketball
Cassie Dodd, Beach Volleyball
Joshua Chu, Men's Cross Country
Annika Salz, Women's Cross Country
Sam Yoon, Football
Matthew Yamin, Men's Golf
Angela Liu, Women's Golf
Mika Webster-Longin, Gymnastics
Sophie Sannes-Eckhoff, Rowing
Shakir Nixon, Men's Soccer
Siena Meyer, Women's Soccer
Aleena Garcia, Softball
Elena Dry, Women's Swimming & Diving
Cassius Chinlund, Men's Tennis
Mia Jovic, Women's Tennis
Shawn Toney, Men's Track & Field
Taylor Snaer, Women's Track & Field
Sean Kelly, Men's Volleyball
Kathryn Duffey, Women's Volleyball
Max Matthews, Men's Water Polo
Maile Turner, Women's Water Polo
ย
Athletic Director's Academic Excellence Award
For the student athletes with outstanding academic achievements, maintaining their status on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll every quarter attended at UCLA.
Madisyn Anyimi, Gymnastics
Michael Barnett, Baseball
Maggie Boyd, Beach Volleyball
Grant Buckey, Football
Danielle DeFrancisci, Rowing
Andrea Djuric, Rowing
Kaija Frassrand, Rowing
Lily Gess, Women's Water Polo
Rachel Katz, Rowing
Emma Lineback, Women's Water Polo
Audrey Loeb, Rowing
Anika Roche, Rowing
Noah Rowe, Men's Water Polo
Annika Salz, Women's Cross Country
Sam Scott, Men's Soccer
Shawn Toney, Men's Track & Field
Faye Turcotte, Rowing
Matthew Yamin, Men's Golf
Sam Yoon, Football
ย
The awards banquet honored student-athletes for their work both on and off the playing field. Track & Field's Annika Salz and Shawn Toney received the night's top award as the Scholar-Athletes of the Year after compiling the highest cumulative GPAs among female and male graduating seniors, respectively. Basketball player Lauren Betts was selected the Female Bruin of the Year, and baseball's Roch Cholowsky was voted the Male Bruin of the Year. ย
2025-26 UCLA Student-Athlete Awards Banquet Winners
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Awarded to the female and male graduating student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA.
Annika Salz, Women's Track & Field/Cross Country (3.944 gpa, mathematics major)
Shawn Toney, Men's Track & Field (3.884 gpa, business economics major)
ย
Female Bruin of the Year
Lauren Betts, Women's Basketball
ย
Male Bruin of the Year
Roch Cholowsky, Baseball
ย
Female Rookie of the Year
Daphne Nakfoor, Women's Soccer
ย
Male Rookie of the Year
Juju Walls, Football
ย
Maggie Gilbert Academic Achievement Award
Given in honor of Maggie Gilbert, this award recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated significant academic growth throughout their time at UCLA. These recipients have continually developed as scholars, showing a strong commitment to improving their academic performance each year. Through perseverance, dedication, and a willingness to embrace challenges, they have strengthened their academic foundation and made meaningful progress in the classroom.
Megan Grant, Softball
Solomone Malafu, Football
ย
Rose Gilbert Community Impact Award
Given in honor of Rose Gilbert, the Rose Gilbert Community Impact Award recognizes student-athletes who use their platform to create meaningful change in their communities. A lifelong educator and advocate for student support, Rose was deeply committed to helping young people navigate challenges and reach their full potential. In that same spirit, this award celebrates student-athletes at UCLA who demonstrate leadership through service, community engagement, and the positive use of their name, image, and likeness to uplift others. Recipients embody Rose's legacy by making a lasting impact beyond competition, serving as role models who inspire, empower, and strengthen the communities around them.
Karson Gordon, Football/Track & Field
Kiki Rice, Women's Basketball
ย
Bruin Leadership Award
Through their leadership skills and initiative, the recipients of the Bruin Leadership Award are student-athletes who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a significant impact on the UCLA student-athlete experience. They have demonstrated outstanding services to others and within the community.
Andrea Djuric, Rowing
Jaiden Russell, Men's Volleyball
ย
Sportsmanship Award
The sportsmanship award recognizes a student-athlete or team who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship and ethical behavior in intercollegiate athletics, along with a demonstrated commitment to good citizenship beyond the competitive setting. They reflect the values of respect and integrity through their actions and consistently demonstrate these values in their daily participation.
Men's Volleyball
ย
OAE Pyramid of Success Award
The mission of the Office of Academic Excellence (OAE) is to empower student-athletes to maximize their educational experience as they pursue their academic and personal goals. This award reflects the mission of OAE by recognizing student-athletes who are self-sufficient learners and who embody John Wooden's definition of "success." These students demonstrate outstanding character and successfully found a true balance between excelling both academically and athletically.
Sam Yoon, Football
Taylor Smith, Women's Water Polo
ย
UCLA All-Academic Team
The UCLA All-Academic Team is comprised of the person from each team with the highest cumulative GPA.
Michael Barnett, Baseball
Eric Dailey Jr., Men's Basketball
Amanda Muse, Women's Basketball
Cassie Dodd, Beach Volleyball
Joshua Chu, Men's Cross Country
Annika Salz, Women's Cross Country
Sam Yoon, Football
Matthew Yamin, Men's Golf
Angela Liu, Women's Golf
Mika Webster-Longin, Gymnastics
Sophie Sannes-Eckhoff, Rowing
Shakir Nixon, Men's Soccer
Siena Meyer, Women's Soccer
Aleena Garcia, Softball
Elena Dry, Women's Swimming & Diving
Cassius Chinlund, Men's Tennis
Mia Jovic, Women's Tennis
Shawn Toney, Men's Track & Field
Taylor Snaer, Women's Track & Field
Sean Kelly, Men's Volleyball
Kathryn Duffey, Women's Volleyball
Max Matthews, Men's Water Polo
Maile Turner, Women's Water Polo
ย
Athletic Director's Academic Excellence Award
For the student athletes with outstanding academic achievements, maintaining their status on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll every quarter attended at UCLA.
Madisyn Anyimi, Gymnastics
Michael Barnett, Baseball
Maggie Boyd, Beach Volleyball
Grant Buckey, Football
Danielle DeFrancisci, Rowing
Andrea Djuric, Rowing
Kaija Frassrand, Rowing
Lily Gess, Women's Water Polo
Rachel Katz, Rowing
Emma Lineback, Women's Water Polo
Audrey Loeb, Rowing
Anika Roche, Rowing
Noah Rowe, Men's Water Polo
Annika Salz, Women's Cross Country
Sam Scott, Men's Soccer
Shawn Toney, Men's Track & Field
Faye Turcotte, Rowing
Matthew Yamin, Men's Golf
Sam Yoon, Football
ย
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