SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – For the first time in Summit League history, both recipients of the Daktronics Scholar-Athletes of the Year came from the same institution. This year’s winners hail from the University of South Dakota as Jacy Pulse secured the female honor and Caleb Swanson garnered the male honor.
These two Coyotes were recognized for their outstanding academic achievements, athletic achievements, attitude, and leadership throughout the 2023-24 academic year. Pulse is the third Coyote to earn the female distinction, while Swanson is the third different Coyote and fourth overall to claim the male honor.
Pulse also became the 10th female track and field standout to earn the accolade, which is the most of any sport on the men’s or women’s side. Swanson is the third male swimmer honored.
The Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is the most prestigious accolade The Summit League bestows each year and is determined by a vote of the league's faculty athletic representatives.
JACY PULSE | SOUTH DAKOTA
Pulse closed out her senior season by earning second team All-America honors in the 400-meter hurdles and qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials. The All-America honor was the second of a career that saw her also combine for 14 individual and relay Summit League championships between indoor and outdoor track and field.
She won three consecutive individual titles in the 400-meter hurdles, including breaking the meet record in 2024, at the outdoor championship from 2022-24. Her efforts helped the Coyotes to team titles at the 2022 indoor and outdoor championships and 2023 indoor championship.
In the classroom, Pulse graduated in nursing this past May with Summa Cum Laude honors (3.96 GPA), finishing on the Dean’s List every semester during her athletic career from 2020-24. She also earned the Academic Excellence in the USD Nursing Program, which is awarded to the top 10 percent of the nursing class.
Pulse also earned Summit League All-Academic and USTFCCA All-Academic Team honors for both indoor and outdoor seasons in 2022, 2023 and 2024 and was named to the Summit League honor roll and Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence.
Pulse’s passion for nursing developed during high school when she worked as a certified CAN at a local long-term facility and her care for patients continued throughout her clinical hours while completing her degree at USD. She also found time to volunteer with local Special Olympics assisting at track and field competitions.
Pulse will begin her nursing career at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls working in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit.
Also nominated for Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Erika Remington, Denver // Lily Stedman, Kansas City // Kacie Borowicz, North Dakota // Kelley Johnson, North Dakota State // Lynsey Tucker, Omaha // Riley Baldwin, Oral Roberts // Jade Hill, St. Thomas // Tori Nelson, South Dakota State
CALEB SWANSON | SOUTH DAKOTA
Swanson concluded his four-year swimming career at South Dakota with more than 60 career top-10 finishes and was a finalist in five combined events at the 2021 and 2023 Summit League Championships.
In the classroom, Swanson graduated with a perfect 4.00 GPA, earning degrees in sustainability and political science with a minor in Biology. This past academic year, on top of his studies, Swanson also served as the Student Government Association President at USD.
The Mitchell, S.D. native was named a Harry S. Truman scholar in 2023, earning a $30,000 scholarship for aspiring public service leaders. He also earned a 2024 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship becoming the 35th Coyote to earn that award, which will allow him to receive a one-time $10,000 scholarship to be used for postgraduate study.
In each of his four years on campus, Swanson served as USD’s Environment Club President and, within the community, he currently serves as a board member for Greening Vermillion Nonprofit.
A two-time All-Summit League Academic Team honoree, Swanson will spend the next year interning in Washington, D.C., in the area of sustainability agriculture and water protection. Following his internship, Swanson will begin law school where he will focus on environmental law with aspirations to one day clerk for a federal judge before working for the Department of Justice as an attorney.
Swanson’s passion for the environment and sustainable agriculture spawned from his time spent on his family’s farm in the rolling plains of central South Dakota and strengthened after a summer internship with the City Manager in Mitchell, S.D. where he worked on a water quality issues.
Also nominated for Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jason Belloli, Denver // Daniel Gutgesell, Kansas City // Luke Labatte, North Dakota // Zach McGlynn, North Dakota State // Lute Lillo Portero, Omaha // Jackson Drake, Oral Roberts // Daniel Burkhalter, South Dakota State // Jack Rosner, St. Thomas
ABOUT DAKTRONICS
Daktronics helps its customers to impact their audiences throughout the world with large-format LED video displays, message displays, scoreboards, digital billboards, audio systems and control systems in sport, business and transportation applications. Founded in 1968 as a USA-based manufacturing company, Daktronics has grown into the world leader in audiovisual systems and implementation with offices around the globe. Discover more at
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