Shot put and discus thrower Chimobi Onye ('26, BAs criminology, law & society and urban studies) earned honors for his achievements on and off the throwing circle (photo by UC Irvine Athletics). Inset shows athletes with top grade point averages in each academic unit, including Social Ecology's Jackie Pan at center in green dress. (photo by Jacob Thompson/UC Irvine Athletics).
Anteaters from all departments feted for academic achievement
The third annual Zotspys awards ceremony was presented by UC Irvine Athletics on Monday at the Bren Events Center, where several School of Social Ecology students were among the scholar-athletes celebrated for academic and athletic success during the 2025-26 season.
Among the top honors presented was the Academic Achievement Award, which goes to student-athletes who work diligently to become high-achieving in the classroom while contributing to their sports. The award was presented to Anteater track and field star Chimobi Onye, who graduates this Spring with double majors in criminology, law & society (CLS) and urban studies. Mechanical engineering major Zayd Mahmoud of the men's water polo team also earned the award.
While competing as a three-sport athlete at Murrieta Mesa High School, Onye achieved Academic Excellence Awards as a sophomore, junior and senior. At UC Irvine, he made The Big West All-Academic Team as a second- and third-year, when he also landed on the Big West Commissioner’s Honor Roll—with honors. (The 2025-26 season’s Honor Roll will be released in July.)
At the 2026 Big West Championships at Long Beach State’s Jack Rose Track on May 15, Onye unleashed a lifetime-best 17.47 meters (57-3.75) on his sixth and final attempt in the shot put to capture fifth place overall. The next day, he took fifth in the discus as well.
A new Zotspys category this year was Male and Female Comeback Players of the Year, one of which was won by Kelsey Swyney, a forward on the women’s soccer team majoring in psychological science.
Honors also went to student-athletes with the top-grade point averages for each individual academic unit. The School of Social Ecology winner is Jackie Pan, a women’s cross-country runner majoring in social ecology and biological sciences. Women’s water polo player Ella Walker, who majors in psychological science, took unit honors for the Wen Public Health program.
Grade point average leaders on individual teams and studying in the School of Social Ecology include: Walker for women’s water polo; Pan for women’s cross-country; CLS major Maily Huynh for women’s tennis; double major in psychological science and social ecology Ally Bolden for women’s volleyball; and CLS major Jerry Roberts III for men’s track and field.
Each team also had players honored as Scholar-Athletes for their academic achievements, and those who will graduate this year will receive special sashes for commencement ceremonies. Teams and their School of Social Ecology Scholar-Athletes are:
Women's Basketball
Shirel Nahum (psychological science)
Women's Golf
HaYoung Lee (CLS)
Women's Soccer
Jenika Davis (CLS)
Kelsey Swyney (psychological science)
Women's Tennis
Quin Brady (psychology)
Maily Huynh (CLS)
Haily Huynh (psychological science and CLS)
Men's Track & Field
Matthew Irvine (psychological science)
Chimobi Onye (CLS & urban studies)
Jerry Roberts III (CLS)
Women's Track & Field
Nyla Baker (CLS)
Samantha Bartz (psychology)
Elisabeth Driscoll (psychology)
Leilah Lauifi (CLS)
Jackie Pan (social ecology and biological sciences)
Giselle Rodriguez (psychology)
Pinkie Schnayer (CLS)
Zharia Taylor (urban studies)
Women's Volleyball
Jessica Bates (CLS)
Ally Bolden (psychological science and social ecology)
Ava Gronemeyer (psychology)
Men's Water Polo
Cole Francisco (social ecology)
Women's Water Polo
Charley Birdsall (social ecology)
Mary Hassett (social ecology)
Ella Walker (psychological science)
CJ Sirls (psychology)
Complete Zotspys ceremony coverage
UC Irvine Athletics also released a list of Spring 2026 graduates from each sport. School of Social Ecology grads are:
Baseball
Rowan Felsch, Psychological Sciences
Auggie Gutierrez, Psychological Sciences
Alonso Reyes, Psychological Sciences
Women’s Tennis
Haily Huynh, Criminology, Law & Society
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Matthew Irvine, Psychological Sciences
Chimobi Onye, Criminology, Law, Society
Jerry Roberts, Criminology, Law & Society
Women’s Cross Country/Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field
Nyla Baker, Criminology, Law & Society
Samantha Bartz, Psychological Sciences
Faith McLeary, Criminology, Law & Society
Zharia Taylor, Urban Studies
Women’s Volleyball
Elizabeth Miller, Psychology
Women’s Water Polo
Charley Birdsall, Social Ecology
Maja Layden, Psychological Sciences