DALLAS, TX. – Jax State junior guard Samiya Steele has won the 2024-25 CUSA Winter Spirit of Service Award. Steele was a key contributor on and off the court for the Gamecocks during the 2024-25 campaign.
 
Steele is an active member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and serves as SAAC's Fundraising Chair. Steele leads the Gamecocks in participating in community service events such as High Five Friday's, Softball Fan Day, reading to the on-campus children at the child development center and Trunk-or-Treat at the local elementary school.
 
Steele is a double major in psychology and criminal justice where she has earned a 3.59 GPA. She has been on the President's and Dean's List and is also a 2025 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar recipient. Steele tied for a team-best 2.5 assists per game and averaged 5.0 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in 28 outings for Jax State.
 
Conference USA's Winter Spirit of Service Award honors student-athletes with significant community service endeavors, good academic standing, and participation within their respective sports.
 
The award is presented three times throughout the academic/athletic calendar, with Friday's winners representing basketball and track and field. The recipients are nominated by their respective universities.
 
2024-25 Winter Spirit of Service Award Recipients
FIU – Gabrielle Bryan, Indoor Track and Field
Jacksonville State – Samiya Steele, Women's Basketball
Kennesaw State – Braden Garrison, Indoor Track and Field
Liberty – Beau Backes, Indoor Track and Field
Louisiana Tech – Isla Airey, Women's Basketball
Middle Tennessee – Jacob Johnson, Men's Basketball
New Mexico State – Molly Kaiser, Women's Basketball
UTEP – Noah Jirgens, Indoor Track and Field
WKU – Tyler Olden, Men's Basketball