DURHAM, N.C. – Tennis player Hugo Hidalgo Vega and softball player Jaden Davis were named the North Carolina Central Men's and Women's Student-Athletes of the Year on Monday (April 28) at the Eddies, the name of the annual NCCU athletic awards ceremony.

Hidalgo Vega led the men's tennis team to its most successful season in the Division I era, winning a record-setting 16 matches. Hidalgo Vega became the first Eagle to earn an ITA national ranking in the Division I ranks after topping Pedro Rodenas of Duke, who was ranked 38^th at the time. The Eagles' No. 1 singles and doubles player, Hidalgo Vega was a first team All-MEAC selection for the second straight year and helped NCCU reach the MEAC Championship finals. A native of Madrid, Spain, Hidalgo Vega was 13-5 in singles matches and 11-4 in doubles. In 2024, he was the MEAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year.

Davis continued her reign as a stellar softball pitcher and strikeout artist as a senior. She leads the MEAC with 118 strikeouts heading into the conference championship tournament next week. Her 12 wins overall and nine victories in the conference top the MEAC, and she ranks 66^th in the country in strikeouts. A Knightdale, N.C., native, Davis is a two-time All-MEAC pitcher who was named the most outstanding performer during the Eagles' championship run in 2023, earning NCCU its first-ever MEAC title and first appearance in the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. Last year's MEAC strikeout leader, Davis has 386 strikeouts in her four-year career.

Volleyball player Emmie Modlin and men's tennis player Oliver Saarinen were the winners of the Chancellor's Award, presented to the graduating senior women's and men's student-athletes with the highest overall grade point average.

Below is a list of the 2025 Eddies award winners:

Faculty Athletic Council Award (Large Team)
Volleyball
 
Faculty Athletic Council Award (Small Team)
Men's Tennis
 
Chancellor's Award
Female – Emmie Modlin (Volleyball)
Male – Oliver Saarinen (Men's Tennis)
 
Harper Armstrong Graduate Award
Ja'Zona Spates
 
Donor of the Year
Aaron Spaulding
 
Sponsor of the Year
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
 
Politano-McCree Graduate Service Award
Gabriel Cucalon Jacques
 
LuAnn Edmonds-Harris Legacy Award
Tim Carlton
 
Eagle Cup
Football
 
Eagle Excellence Academic Award
Cheer: Se'Maj Nichols
Football: Juan Velarde Vasquez
Volleyball: Emmie Modlin
Men's Basketball: Caleb Ellison
Women's Basketball: Janiah Jones
Men's Cross Country: Ryan Chong
Women's Cross Country: Victoria Swepson
Men's Track and Field: Matthew Swepson
Women's Track and Field: Sydni Smith
Softball: Kia Borum
Men's Golf: Kyle Gregory
Women's Golf: Josefina Rendo
Men's Tennis: Oliver Saarinen
Women's Tennis: Kennedy Hill
 
Debra Saunders-White Leadership Award
Cheer: Morgan Parham
JV Cheer: Macailyn Vaughn
Football: Max U'ren
Volleyball: Emmie Modlin
Men's Basketball: Perry Smith Jr.
Women's Basketball: Aysia Hinton
Men's Cross Country: Ryan Chong
Women's Cross Country: Alitza Dennard
Men's Track and Field: Travis Stuckey
Women's Track and Field: Tia Lucas
Softball: Jaden Davis
Men's Golf: Kyle Gregory
Women's Golf: Cailynn Winford
Men's Tennis: Oliver Saarinen
Women's Tennis: Alejandra Hidalgo Vega
 
Coaches Most Valuable Player Award
Cheer: Hannah Williams
JV Cheer: Isabella Jennings
Football: Trevon Humphrey
Volleyball: Tayah Little
Men's Basketball: Po'Boigh King
Women's Basketball: Morgan Callahan
Men's Cross Country: Emmanuel Paddyfote
Women's Cross Country: Kayla Johnson
Men's Track and Field: Jonathan Rajon-Koger
Women's Track and Field: Melanne Sutton
Softball: Jaden Davis
Men's Golf: Jamal Hutchison
Women's Golf: Trinity Ahing
Men's Tennis: Hugo Hidalgo Vega
Women's Tennis: Alejandra Hidalgo Vega and Gabriela Mejia Arenas
 
Chekeria Reid Sportsmanship Award
Female – Joy Harris (Women's Cross Country/Track and Field)
Male – Neiman Sneed (Men's Tennis)
 
Newcomer of the Year
Female– Daiyah Bailey (Softball)
Male – Cashmere James (Track and Field)
 
Student-Athlete of the Year
Female – Jaden Davis (Softball)
Male – Hugo Hidalgo Vega (Men's Tennis)
 
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