Soka's Cienna Irwin has been named the recipient of the Dr. Jim Davies Award as the 2024-25 Female Scholar Athlete of the Year in the California Pacific Conference.  The year-end award is voted on by the Cal Pac Directors Council and awarded to the student-athlete who best embodies the Champions of Character in competition, in the classroom, and in the community. 

The Dr. Jim Davies Award is the highest award presented by the Cal Pac, named in honor of the man who passed away suddenly in November of 2015 after serving as the Eligibility Chair since the conference's inception in 1995.
"Cienna was our national NAIA student representative and was fantastic in the role," said Cal Pac Commissioner Dr. Don Ott.  "Her leadership of our student group, her play on the field, and her desire to work in athletics sets her up to go a long way in her career choice.  I am really proud that she is the female winner."

Irwin has been an outstanding leader in women's soccer program since arriving at Soka.  A three-year captain of the squad, she has been a major contributor to the competitiveness of the Lions.  Irwin's play earned her All-Cal Pac First Team recognition after being voted to the Second Team in 2021 and 2023.  She is also a Champions of Character recipient in 2022 and 2024.  Last year Irwin was honored as the Soka Female Athlete of Year.

Irwin has also flourished in the classroom.  She earned Cal Pac All-Academic recognition in 2024, was an NAIA-Daktronics Scholar Athlete in 2022 and 2023, was named CSC Academic All-District in 2022, and she has made the Academic Dean's List in all three of her first years at Soka.

Irwin exemplifies excellence in all facets of student-athlete life—on the field, in the classroom, and within the community.  A respected leader, she has served her school, her conference, and her community with a diligent work ethic and positive attitude.  She has been a member of Soka's S.A.A.C all four years, served as the Cal Pac SAC representative for three years, where she was Vice Chair this past year.  She is the conference ASA representative at the national level.  She is also serving as the first-ever Junior Woman Leader at Soka.  Additionally, Irwin has had a huge impact on the Soka community at large, working as a Youth Soccer director in Riverside, Calif., YMCA Teacher's Assistant, coach for First Touch Coaching, AYSO VIP Program volunteer, and she has created a Career Readiness program for future student-athletes at Soka University.
 
"I am extremely proud of Cienna for earning the highest award presented by the Cal Pac. She is an athlete that exemplifies all the core values of the NAIA, and does a fantastic job representing our team, department, university, and conference," said head coach Wendy Espejel. "Her involvement as team captain as well as being a SAAC and Cal Pac representative is a true testament to her dedication and advocacy to the student-athlete experience. Cienna has truly left a lasting impact on our program, and I am confident she will continue to do so in every area that she is a part of."