Photo by UK Athletics
She’s still not exactly who nominated her for the award — she thinks it had to be one of her professors — but University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines is thrilled to be one of three recipients of the prestigious Sullivan Award at UK.
She’s an All-American swimmer but this award is for contributions in the classroom and community. Any graduating senior at UK is eligible for selection.
“It is super cool to win this award,” said Gaines, who was named the Southeastern Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the year recently. “I find awards about community service mean a lot. It’s a pretty big deal to win this.”
She is only the fourth UK student-athlete to win this award in the last decade joining Josh Nadzam (2012, men’s track), Grace Trimble (2015, women’s tennis) and Max Godby (2015, football).
“My friends and family were super pumped that I got this award,” Gaines, who has a 3.876 cumulative grade-point average, said. “I knew I won but I had not told anyone about it. I have won a lot of things and know people probably get tired of hearing about it, so I just didn’t say anything. But since UK released it, I have had a ton of people reach out to congratulate me.”
Gains has worked with God’s Pantry, Special Olympics of Kentucky, Give 10 (R.E.A.L. Read), the Shriner’s Hospital, Kentucky United Telethon and Amachi. She was also inducted into the 2022 Frank G. Ham Society of Character that honors student-athletes who show an extraordinary commitment to academic excellence, athletic participation, personal development, career preparation and serving as a role model.
“I am proud of this because it shows it is not just my swimming that I can win awards for. This was not offered to just athletes and is more of a true testament to my service and things I am committed to doing outside of athletics,” Gaines said. “That is why this is very special. It’s an even playing field with everyone at UK on this award and that just makes it mean even more.”
