The President’s Pride Cup is the highest overall award a team can receive at Clemson. It is awarded to the team that demonstrates the greatest achievement in athletics, academics, leadership and community outreach. The award originated with Sarah Cefalu, a swimmer who attended the NCAA Leadership Conference and brought the idea to the attention of SAAC. Jay Crout, also a swimmer who was an assistant in the Office of Community Relations, devised the point system that is used today. The Cup honors excellence in all areas of the student-athlete experience.
In only its third year as an award, the President’s Pride Cup was awarded to the Clemson rowing team for the 2008-2009 academic year. The Clemson women’s swimming and diving team earned the award the previous two years. The rowing team averaged over 35 hours of community service per athlete, won the ACC Championship, and the team’s Varsity 4+ won an NCAA championship. The rowers also had four of the ACC’s Top-Six Athletes for community service and were within the top five teams in academics for both the fall and spring semesters.
President’s Pride Cup Champions:2006-2007: Women’s Swimming and Diving – 80 points2007-2008: Women’s Swimming and Diving – 87.5 points2008-2009: Rowing – 107 points
September 26, 2024