WACO, Texas – The National Collegiate Equestrian Association (NCEA) has announced the Standout Student-Athlete and Horse of the Month awards for the month of October, as voted on by the NCEA Awards Committee, released Thursday.
 
UC Davis' Lola Sullivan is honored as the Standout Student-Athlete of the Month, while TCU's Player is given the spotlight as the Horse of the Month.

Standout Student-Athlete of the Month
Every month the NCEA recognizes student-athletes for their accomplishments in the ring, however the NCEA would like to highlight athletes on their outstanding performances outside of the ring, including academics, philanthropy, outstanding attitude, and embodiment of an ideal teammate.
Name of Student-Athlete: Lola Sullivan
School & Year: UC Davis, Junior
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Major: Managerial Economics
Highlighted Accomplishments: 
Lola Sullivan, a third-year student majoring in Managerial Economics with minors in Philosophy and Sociology, excels in academics, athletics, leadership, and service. As Team Captain and former Community Service Coordinator, she models teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship, earning 2× ECAC Sportsmanship Award, 2× Team Sportsmanship Award, Team Leadership Award, Team Community Service Award, Excellence in Horse Care, and placement on the ECAC All-Academic Honor Roll. Beyond the ring, she co-founded Fern’s Place Inc., a nonprofit providing temporary foster care for pets of individuals entering inpatient care or recovery, demonstrating initiative, empathy, and leadership. She has also interned with the District Attorney’s Office and a private law firm, and plans to pursue family law, advocating for victims of domestic violence. Known for her warmth, genuine spirit, and unwavering drive to make a positive impact, Sullivan uplifts everyone around her and reflects the NCEA’s commitment to academic and competitive excellence, leadership, and community service. 
Coach’s Comments:
"I’m honored to recommend Lola Sullivan as Student Athlete of the month. She has consistently demonstrated exceptional academics, leadership, and compassion. Lola brings a bright, genuine spirit to everything she does. Her warmth, optimism, and unwavering work ethic make her not only a pleasure to work with but also a natural leader who uplifts those around her. I cannot speak highly enough of Lola and the incredible atmosphere of enthusiasm and collaboration that she creates in everything she does."
 
Horse of the Month
This highlight is focused on an outstanding horse, not just one that gets high score every meet or an “MOP horse” but one that shows heart and represents the values of its respective school.
Name of Horse (Barn & Show Name): Player
Discipline: Reining
School: TCU
Highlighted Accomplishments: 
His riders have earned an MOP in all three meets so far this season. Against Auburn, his riders scored a 73 and a 72, against Baylor he scored a 73.75 and a 73.5, and against Oklahoma State the scores were a 72.5 and a 69.25.
Coach’s Comments:
"Player is a phenomenal horse who performs at the highest level. He has won an MOP in all three meets this season, showing his abilities."
 
About the NCEA
A non-profit corporation, the NCEA is a governing body to advance the sport of equestrian. The NCEA is responsible for the development and administration of equestrian rules and guidelines. Equestrian is subject to all NCAA policies and procedures in the same manner as other sports. In 1998, Equestrian was identified and adopted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Committee on Women's Athletics (CWA) as an emerging sport for women at the Division I and II levels. 
 
NCEA competitions are in a head-to-head format, and schools may choose to compete as a single or dual discipline team (Jumping Seat and Western). Each discipline has two events: in Jumping Seat, Fences and Flat, and in Western, Horsemanship and Reining. Teams can have five riders per event, with horses assigned by random draw at the start of the competition. Riders from opposing teams compete on the same horse, and whichever rider receives the higher score earns one point for her team. The level of difficulty is demonstrated by the accuracy of the pattern and how the competitor uses the horse to the best of her ability.
 
To stay up to date all year long on all things NCEA Equestrian, follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @NCEA_Equestrian and @ncea_eq.