Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University junior Riya Keshaw is the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winner for women's cross country, league officials announce this week. Keshaw receives this honor for the first time in her career.
 
The SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented to one student-athlete from each of the conference's championship sports. The SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee votes on this honor. This prestigious award is given to the deserving recipient for their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership. Wingate has won the women's cross country award for five consecutive years.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate head cross country coach Pol Domenech
 
"Riya Keshaw is one of those rare student-athletes who can make everyone around her better just by being herself. Her personality brings light to even the toughest days and her leadership keeps the team connected and motivated. She leads by example, showing that hard work and joy can coexist at the highest level. Riya represents everything we value in our program — excellence, empathy and an unwavering commitment to the team."
 
Wingate University chemistry professor Dr. Chris Dahm
 
"I have had the pleasure of having Riya Keshaw as a student in two of my classes. Riya is one of those students who is a joy to have in the classroom. She worked very hard and did extremely well in both classes, consistently performing at the top of the class. She also works well with her fellow students. There was a lot of in-class group work and Riya would lead discussions and help her classmates figure out how to solve the problems. I am happy to hear Riya is the South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winner for women's cross country."
 
The Riya Keshaw file
Junior, East London, South Africa
 
- Biology major with a 3.986 cumulative GPA
- All-Southeast Region selection in '24 and '25
- All-South Atlantic Conference second team twice ('24, '25)
- Season-best times: 22:21.8 (6K, Lehigh) and 22:32.4 (6K, SER)
- Wingate has won SAC and SER titles each of her three seasons
- Volunteered with One Day, One Dog two years
- Keshaw and teammates led East Elementary School's Field Day event
- Two-year paid employee in Wingate's international admissions office
- Participated in the Grow Great Campaign in South Africa
- The Grow Great Campaign works to reduce childhood malnutrition
- Math and history tutor, helping South African HS students understand key concepts
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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