2023-2024 AFH University Award Winners - Athletes for Hope

Join us for our annual Play for Good Gala on December 7!

2023-2024 AFH University Award Winners

After the completion of this year’s AFH U Student-Athlete of the Year and Team of the Year national voting campaign, featuring seven student-athletes and seven teams from AFH University, we are thrilled to announce this year’s winners! We are also proud to announce this year’s AFH University Pass the Passion awardees to one student-athlete and one team, chosen by last year’s winners.

Read about their work below and join us in congratulating them on going above and beyond in service over the past academic year.

AFH University Student-Athlete of the Year

Ckelby Givens headshot

Ckelby Givens, Southern Football

Ckelby was eager to join the mental health panel focused on Black history to discuss his upbringing experiences and the absence of discussions aimed at dismantling stigma within his community. His goal is to alter that narrative on the Southern University campus.

AFH University Team of the Year

Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball

The Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball team hosted 15 children from the Harland Boys and Girls Club along with three chaperones and gave them a “day in the life” experience. Women’s Basketball along with the Spirit Booster Club showed the kids what a day in the life of a CAU student-athlete is like. The kids from the club were able to spend time with the student-athletes and get to know them and ask questions about what being a collegiate athlete is like. They also spent the game with the Spirit Boosters who showed them different cheers and encouraged them to engage with fans and have fun!

Team photo of Clark Atlanta Women's Basketball

AFH University Pass the Passion Student-Athlete of the Year

Zion Walters standing outside and smiling

Zion Walters, Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball

For the entire first semester of the school year, Zion attended the Harland Boys and Girls Club weekly to hang out with the kids. In the month of December, she worked tirelessly to help the kids choreograph a dance to perform at their Holiday Party. She worked with the kids for over a month to get the dance perfect to perform in front of all of the staff, kids, and families at the club.

AFH University Pass the Passion Team of the Year

Team photo of Howard Women's lacrosse

Howard Women’s Lacrosse

Throughout the spring semester, Howard Women’s Lacrosse visited DCPCS – Brightwood campus to conduct CHAMPS sessions. They helped with four sessions with 2nd and 4th graders to discuss the words of month: Courage and Honesty. The consistent visits were invaluable to the children at the school and the women on the team have attended with such excitement and commitment.