DALLAS, TX. – Jax State senior Ella Tuomela has won the 2025 CUSA Spring Spirit of Service Award. Tuomela was a contributor to a 10-8 record in 2025 and a 4-0 win over Sam Houston in the CUSA Tournament.

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.
 
Tuomela achieved a 3-2 record in singles play and a 7-5 record in doubles action in her senior season. Tuomela teamed up with Polina Ramenskaja for the majority of the season en route to a 4-2 mark as a doubles squad. Tuomela and Anna Syrova went 2-2, Tuomela and Ava Thomason went 1-0, and Tuomela and Irene Artigas went 0-1. Tuomela helped the Gamecocks to a 51-33 overall record in singles and a 27-18 record in doubles action.
 
She also was named as one of 103 Jax State athletes to earn a CUSA Academic Medal. The medals are given to student-athletes that have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or better.
 
Conference USA's Spring 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 Thursday's winners representing tennis, softball, beach volleyball, outdoor track and field, and golf.
 
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 Garcia, Women's Tennis
Louisiana Tech – Alannah Rogers, Softball
Middle Tennessee – Abbie Lee, Women's Golf
UTEP – Emma Schuber, Beach Volleyball 
WKU – Averi Cline, Women's Golf