DALLAS – Five Conference USA standouts were named semifinalists for the 2025 Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup, announced Sunday by Athletes for a Better World. The league boasts the most semifinalists of any conference, ahead of the ACC (four), SEC (four) and Big Ten (three).
 
The group includes five recipients of the CUSA Spirit of Service Award in FIU’s Reagan Bridges (women’s soccer), Jax State’s Rudi Barnette (women’s cross country), Kennesaw State’s Olivia Burrage (volleyball), Liberty’s Elijah Auguste (football) and LA Tech’s Zach Zimos (football).
 
The award, which was first presented in 2005 and is named after legendary Coach John Wooden, celebrates athletes who excel in their sport, demonstrate exceptional leadership, contribute meaningfully to their community and embody the highest standards of personal character.
 
The top three finalists will be announced in mid-February and will be invited to the star-studded awards ceremony on April 25 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
 
Bridges’ community involvement has included the Relay for Life Halloween Carnival and Letters for Love program, along with packaging and distributing food at a local food drive and arts & crafts with underserved youth at a Back to School event. With a near perfect GPA in chemistry (3.99), she earned a spot on the Dean’s List and CSC Academic All-District Team and was a recipient of the CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal. The 2024 CUSA Defensive Player of the Year, Bridges was a CUSA First-Team honoree this season after starting in every game and playing the most minutes for a defense that was one of the best Conference USA this season. 
 
Barnette serves as the chair for the SAAC Community Service Committee and has implemented numerous projects for her fellow Gamecocks, such as High Five Fridays, Trunk or Treat and Pre-K class readings. She owns a 3.92 GPA in biology secondary education with the goal of becoming a biology teacher in the near future. Barnette competed in five meets this fall, helping Jax State to four top-five finishes, and logged a career-best 6k performance at the 2024 CUSA Cross Country Championship (25:17.8).  
 
Burrage found time between her commitments on the court and in the classroom to work with Reflections of Trinity, a non-profit dedicated to meeting the basic needs of those in crisis with food, clothing and houseware. She currently has a 3.15 GPA in elementary education. Burrage led the team in blocks (104) and blocks per set (0.91), while ranking second in CUSA in hitting percentage (.368) with 2.16 kills per set.  
 
Auguste serves as the football program’s representative on the Flames’ SAAC and has helped with many various community service opportunities. A two-time member of the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll, he owns a 3.29 GPA in interdisciplinary studies, with a focus in Health Care Management and Sport Management. Auguste has seen playing time in all 11 games, mostly on special teams. He tallied all eight tackles in CUSA play, including a season-best three solo stops at Kennesaw State.  
 
Zimos takes pride in giving back to the community, utilizing his free time to volunteer with projects like Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club, Be the Match, Hometown Heroes and Dogs with a Cause, along with various opportunities at local schools. He earned his MBA this past summer and boasts a 3.50 GPA in his postbaccalaureate studies. Zimos earned Honorable Mention All-CUSA honors after posting a team-high 74 tackles, along with 6.0 tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries.  
 
2025 Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup Semifinalists
Alex Epp, William Jewell (baseball)
Briley Elder, Oglethorpe (men’s basketball)
Brooklyn DeLeve, Kentucky (volleyball)
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State (men’s basketball)
Eddie Czaplicki, USC (football)
Elijah Auguste, Liberty (football)
Isabella Turner, Georgia Tech (women’s cross country)
John Watkins, Georgia Tech (men’s track & field)
Josh Hubbard, Mississippi State (men’s basketball)
Keimarya Rivera, Oglethorpe (women’s basketball)
Kennedy Martin, Florida (volleyball)
Luke Altmyer, Illinois (football)
Malaki Starks, Georgia (football)
Matthew Sorbe, South Dakota (men’s swim & dive)
Olivia Babcock, Pittsburgh (volleyball)
Olivia Burrage, Kennesaw State (volleyball)
Rachel Fairbanks, Pittsburgh (volleyball)
Reagan Bridges, FIU (women’s soccer)
Rudi Barnette, Jax State (women’s cross country)
Zach Zimos, LA Tech (football)