University of Georgia Athletics
Staude and Snellings Named Joel Eaves Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
September 14, 2026 | Football, General, Soccer
ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia soccer midfielder Kiera Staude and football long snapper Will Snellings were named the recipients of the 2026-27 Joel Eaves Scholar-Athlete Award. The pair was honored prior to last Saturday's Georgia-Western Kentucky football game.
The award is presented annually to the male and female student-athletes with the highest grade point average upon entering the fall semester of his or her senior year, based on academic hour rather than eligibility. Additionally, a student-athlete must have earned at least two varsity letters to be eligible for the award.
Eaves was the Director of Athletics at UGA from 1963-79, and the award was established in 1991 with the aim of acknowledging the contributions he made during his tenure while also highlighting the academic achievements of current student-athletes.
Kiera Staude
Staude is the fourth member of the women's soccer program who has been selected as a Joel Eaves Award winner, following Morgan Hart (2023), Caroline Chipman (2019), and Liliana Rios (2015).
Staude has been a leader for Georgia soccer over four seasons, appearing in 73 matches with 70 starts, including 40 consecutive starts. A team co-captain, she is the active team leader in appearances, starts, points, goals, and minutes. Last season, the Atlanta native was named to the Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Team with six goals, including a hat trick against North Florida. She was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2023 and helped the Bulldog win their first SEC Tournament title and reach the NCAA Round of 16. The Accounting major has been named twice to the CSC Academic All-District Team, received multiple UGA Presidential Scholars honors, and inducted into the Georgia Way L.E.A.D. Leadership Academy.
Will Snellings
Snellings is the seventh member of the football program who has been selected as a winner, following Owen Condon (2021), Prather Hudson (2019), Ty Frix (2011), Brett Kirouac (2001), Brad Register (1999), and his head coach Kirby Smart (1997).
Snellings became the Bulldogs' primary long snapper this season after making seven appearances during his first three seasons in Athens. The Fayetteville native has been a part of the back-to-back SEC champions (2024-25) and a squad that has gone 38-6 since 2023 with a pair of College Football Playoff appearances. Snellings serves as a team representative on the UGA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The Agribusiness major has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in each of the past two seasons.
The award is presented annually to the male and female student-athletes with the highest grade point average upon entering the fall semester of his or her senior year, based on academic hour rather than eligibility. Additionally, a student-athlete must have earned at least two varsity letters to be eligible for the award.
Eaves was the Director of Athletics at UGA from 1963-79, and the award was established in 1991 with the aim of acknowledging the contributions he made during his tenure while also highlighting the academic achievements of current student-athletes.
Kiera Staude
Staude is the fourth member of the women's soccer program who has been selected as a Joel Eaves Award winner, following Morgan Hart (2023), Caroline Chipman (2019), and Liliana Rios (2015).
Staude has been a leader for Georgia soccer over four seasons, appearing in 73 matches with 70 starts, including 40 consecutive starts. A team co-captain, she is the active team leader in appearances, starts, points, goals, and minutes. Last season, the Atlanta native was named to the Second Team All-SEC and SEC All-Tournament Team with six goals, including a hat trick against North Florida. She was also named to the SEC All-Freshman Team in 2023 and helped the Bulldog win their first SEC Tournament title and reach the NCAA Round of 16. The Accounting major has been named twice to the CSC Academic All-District Team, received multiple UGA Presidential Scholars honors, and inducted into the Georgia Way L.E.A.D. Leadership Academy.
Will Snellings
Snellings is the seventh member of the football program who has been selected as a winner, following Owen Condon (2021), Prather Hudson (2019), Ty Frix (2011), Brett Kirouac (2001), Brad Register (1999), and his head coach Kirby Smart (1997).
Snellings became the Bulldogs' primary long snapper this season after making seven appearances during his first three seasons in Athens. The Fayetteville native has been a part of the back-to-back SEC champions (2024-25) and a squad that has gone 38-6 since 2023 with a pair of College Football Playoff appearances. Snellings serves as a team representative on the UGA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. The Agribusiness major has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in each of the past two seasons.
Players Mentioned
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/ Football
Midfielder
/ SoccerThursday, April 30
Thursday, April 16
Tuesday, March 03
Saturday, February 28