DALLAS - Conference USA announced its Spring Spirit of Service Award winners Thursday. The award honors student-athletes with significant community service endeavors, good academic standing and participation in their sport. The Spirit of Service Award is presented three times throughout the season, with Thursday’s honorees representing beach volleyball, outdoor track and field, softball, women’s golf and women’s tennis. Recipients are nominated by their institutions.

2025 Spring Spirit of Service Award Recipients
FIU – Ethan Riley, Outdoor Track and Field
Jacksonville State - Ella Tuomela, Women’s Tennis
Kennesaw State - Ema Baraniakova, Women’s Tennis
Liberty – Daniella O’Neill, Women’s Tennis
LA Tech – Alannah Rogers, Softball
MTSU – Abbie Lee, Women’s Golf
UTEP – Emma Schubert, Beach Volleyball  
WKU – Averi Cline, Women’s Golf
 
FIU senior Ethan Riley contributed volunteering hours at the local elementary school every week of the Spring term, mentoring students during lunch and assisting with signature events like Field Day and the Holiday Village. He managed preparation and day-of responsibilities for the FIU Athletics team and served as a Relay for Life Student Athlete Leadership Council representative and will be an upcoming executive board member. The Palm Harbor, Florida, native boasts a 3.55 GPA while majoring in Exercise Science.
 
Jacksonville State senior Ella Tuomela is an active member of SAAC and leads the media and public relations department, where she primarily works behind the camera capturing key moments of fellow SAAC members at various events. Tuomela volunteered at the Lets Flip Cancer Campaign, where student-athletes sold a stack of pancakes to support a fellow student athlete who is fighting cancer.  She also participated in the High Five Fridays for the local elementary school and decorated and distributed valentine cards to the local assisted living and memory care community. Tuomela graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, boasting Summa Cum Laude honors.
 
Kennesaw State sophomore Ema Baraniakova has completed a total of 19.5 hours of community service and volunteering. Baraniakova volunteered to teach and coach tennis for adolescents within the Atlanta Youth Tennis and Education Foundation Organization (AYTEF). AYTEF is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that provides free, low-cost tennis and education programs for youth in grades K-8th. The organization is based in Marietta, Ga., she was able to participate in their afterschool tennis program in order to empower youth through tennis and education. 
 
Liberty redshirt junior Daniella O’Neill is a SAAC representative for the women’s tennis program (2023-2025). O’Neill has dedicated her time to Dollar Makes a Difference school supplies collection and fundraiser, Trick or Treat so Others Can Eat, Hop on Pop Book Collection, Learn Like Liberty Literacy program and ASPIRE (special needs class) tour and clinic. She boasts a 3.8 GPA in Information Security.
 
Louisiana Tech junior Alannah Rogers is a three-time member of the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and a 2023 NFCA Scholar Athlete. Rogers maintains a 3.46 GPA as she is pursuing her degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. The Surprise, Ariz., native has devoted much of her time in Ruston to the Food Pantry, Christmas shopping for the less fortunate and served as a volunteer at a Puerto Vallarto Elementary School event during the Bulldogs’ trip to Mexico last season. The junior outfielder started in 52 games in 2025 while batting .273 with 36 knocks, seven doubles, three triples and 15 RBI.
 
Middle Tennessee senior Abbie Lee boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA as she studies Mechatronics Engineering with an emphasis in Mathematics. The Glasgow, Ky., native is a three-time CUSA All-Academic Team member and a two-time Women’s Golf Coaches of American All-American Scholar. As a standout on the women’s golf team, she earned All-CUSA Second Team honors and posted the third lowest single-season scoring average in program history. Lee also serves as the MTSU SAAC President, leading numerous community service efforts, including meal drives for local hospitals and children.
 
UTEP freshman Emma Schubert completed her first academic year in El Paso and has her sights set on a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Legal Reasoning. Schubert contributed over 24 hours of community service, supporting organizations like the Salvation Army, Extra Yard for Teachers and the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief. Academically, she was named to the 2025 CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll and recognized as a Commissioner’s Academic Medalist with a 3.88 GPA. As a member of the beach volleyball team, she tallied 12 wins and helped lead the team to its first postseason victory at the CUSA Championship.
 
WKU junior Averi Cline exemplifies leadership and excellence as she has dedicated over 200 hours of community service to Crosslands Kids Ministry, Curbside Ministries and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Cline sports a 3.95 GPA while pursuing a degree in Sport Psychology and is a two-time recipient of the CUSA Commissioner’s Academic Medal and a two-time member of the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll. On the course, she’s been a top performer for the women’s golf program, earning multiple top-20 finishes and posting an impressive 74.8 scoring average across her junior campaign.