2025 Pillar of Purple Award Recipients
5/16/2025 10:00:00 AM | General
Alvarez, Drummond and Scully recognized by TCU's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee
FORT WORTH – TCU Student-Athletes Daniela Alvarez (beach volleyball), Destin Drummond (men's track and field) and Ashleigh Scully (equestrian) have been named recipients of the Pillar of Purple Award, as announced by TCU's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee.
The award is presented to at least one TCU student-athlete from men's sports and one from women's sports, and honors their academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service and leadership. To be eligible, nominees must have junior or senior academic standing and have earned a varsity letter in their respective sport.
The selections are made by the IAC, which is comprised of faculty, staff and students representing the university community.
Drummond is a junior on the men's track and field team and was part of a 4x400m relay team that placed sixth at the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships as a freshman. The Grand Prairie, Texas native placed sixth in the 600-yard run and seventh with the 4x400m relay team at the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships this past season as a junior. His time of 46.81 in the outdoor 400m ranks among the top 25 in TCU history.
The political science major holds a 4.0 GPA while being involved in nine on-campus organizations and programs and holds a leadership position in four of them. Drummond is the co-founder and president of the Black Student-Athlete Alliance, where he has dedicated time to establishing an advocacy channel for Black student-athletes that expanded inclusivity within the athletics department.
Drummond serves as president and Big 12 representative of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). His involvement in SAAC has afforded him the opportunity to spearhead TCU Athletics, the Big 12 Conference and NCAA-based legislation. He was a part of the Big 12 Beyond Borders program and spoke with legislative staff on Capitol Hill last summer. Drummond is also a member of the Black Student Association, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and Political Science Distinction and was also recently named a Clark Society Scholar.
Dummond also serves his community and has had the opportunity to paint murals at city parks, renovate elementary schools and plant trees at a tree farm. He tutors elementary through high school students in various levels of math and writing. Drummond also coaches members of his former high school track club. He uses his photography skills to offer photoshoots to TCU students free of charge and serves as a photographer and videographer for his church.
Alvarez was a graduate student on the national champion beach volleyball team. Among her numerous awards, Alvarez was named 2025 AVCA Player of the Year, NCAA All-Tournament team at the No. 1 position and All-Big 12 Conference. Alvarez finished her career as a four-time AVCA All-American. Her and playing partner Tania Moreno finished fifth in the 2024 Paris Olympics representing their home country of Spain.
Alvarez graduated in 2024 with a degree in actuarial science and earned her analytics certificate in 2025. In addition to beach volleyball, she was a member of the TCU Math Club where she participated in peer problem-solving workshops, math competitions and career speaker events that highlighted real-world applications of mathematics.
Alvarez has accumulated 50 hours of community service. Among her favorite experiences was helping in the mornings at Starpoint Elementary School where she assisted with the safety patrol and reading support. She has also volunteered at several local food banks.
Scully was a graduate student and was TCU's nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2024. She finished her athletic career as one of the most decorated equestrian riders the program has seen. Scully was a five-time All-American and was a six-time Big 12 Rider of the Month. She broke TCU's Fences and Jumping Seat wins record and served as team captain this past season while being named Big 12 Fences Co-Rider of the Year.
Scully held a 4.0 GPA at TCU and graduated with an English degree in 2024 before earning a master's degree in English-Accelerated in 2025. Throughout her career, she has also been involved in photography. As a wildlife conservation photographer, Scully donates the proceeds of her printed photos to at least nine nonprofit organizations that support conservation efforts. She was one of 100 photographers invited to raise awareness about ocean conservation in a print fundraiser for 100 For the Ocean. With over 150,000 followers on her Instagram, she was able to sell over 100 prints, contributing almost $500,000 in funds.
ABOUT THE PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD
The Pillar of Purple Award is presented to at least one member of a TCU men's and women's athletic team. The award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of college athletes from all sports at TCU. To be eligible, nominees must have competed and earned a varsity letter in a TCU sponsored sport.
It is expected that student-athletes selected for the Pillar of Purple Award will exemplify high standards of citizenship, character and courage. This is an award that recognizes the totality of the student-athlete's commitment to excellence. The committee takes the collection of all criteria into consideration in making a decision.
The awardees will receive a plaque or other suitable acknowledgment to be determined by the IAC, be recognized at the annual spring athletic banquet and have their accomplishments noted in an appropriate location in the TCU Library.
For more information about the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee and the Pillar of Purple Award, visit https://fsn.tcu.edu/committees/intercollegiate-athletic-committee/.
PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD RECIPIENTS
2019 – Kianna Ray (women's basketball) and Brendan Barry (men's swimming)
2020 – Kellton Hollins (football) and Rachel Kimbell (rifle)
2021 – Kevin Chao (men's swimming and diving), Tijana Duricek (women's soccer) and Emma Schmidt (women's basketball)
2022 – Dominic DiNunzio (football), Madilyn Cole (volleyball) and Megan Morris (women's swimming and diving)
2023 – Lisa Johnson (swimming) and Luke Savage (baseball)
2024 – Bryce Flynn (swimming and diving), Summer Holt (women's soccer), Landon McMonagle (men's swimming and diving) and Jasmin Muhammad-Graham (women's track and field)
The award is presented to at least one TCU student-athlete from men's sports and one from women's sports, and honors their academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service and leadership. To be eligible, nominees must have junior or senior academic standing and have earned a varsity letter in their respective sport.
The selections are made by the IAC, which is comprised of faculty, staff and students representing the university community.
Drummond is a junior on the men's track and field team and was part of a 4x400m relay team that placed sixth at the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships as a freshman. The Grand Prairie, Texas native placed sixth in the 600-yard run and seventh with the 4x400m relay team at the Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships this past season as a junior. His time of 46.81 in the outdoor 400m ranks among the top 25 in TCU history.
The political science major holds a 4.0 GPA while being involved in nine on-campus organizations and programs and holds a leadership position in four of them. Drummond is the co-founder and president of the Black Student-Athlete Alliance, where he has dedicated time to establishing an advocacy channel for Black student-athletes that expanded inclusivity within the athletics department.
Drummond serves as president and Big 12 representative of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). His involvement in SAAC has afforded him the opportunity to spearhead TCU Athletics, the Big 12 Conference and NCAA-based legislation. He was a part of the Big 12 Beyond Borders program and spoke with legislative staff on Capitol Hill last summer. Drummond is also a member of the Black Student Association, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and Political Science Distinction and was also recently named a Clark Society Scholar.
Dummond also serves his community and has had the opportunity to paint murals at city parks, renovate elementary schools and plant trees at a tree farm. He tutors elementary through high school students in various levels of math and writing. Drummond also coaches members of his former high school track club. He uses his photography skills to offer photoshoots to TCU students free of charge and serves as a photographer and videographer for his church.
Alvarez was a graduate student on the national champion beach volleyball team. Among her numerous awards, Alvarez was named 2025 AVCA Player of the Year, NCAA All-Tournament team at the No. 1 position and All-Big 12 Conference. Alvarez finished her career as a four-time AVCA All-American. Her and playing partner Tania Moreno finished fifth in the 2024 Paris Olympics representing their home country of Spain.
Alvarez graduated in 2024 with a degree in actuarial science and earned her analytics certificate in 2025. In addition to beach volleyball, she was a member of the TCU Math Club where she participated in peer problem-solving workshops, math competitions and career speaker events that highlighted real-world applications of mathematics.
Alvarez has accumulated 50 hours of community service. Among her favorite experiences was helping in the mornings at Starpoint Elementary School where she assisted with the safety patrol and reading support. She has also volunteered at several local food banks.
Scully was a graduate student and was TCU's nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2024. She finished her athletic career as one of the most decorated equestrian riders the program has seen. Scully was a five-time All-American and was a six-time Big 12 Rider of the Month. She broke TCU's Fences and Jumping Seat wins record and served as team captain this past season while being named Big 12 Fences Co-Rider of the Year.
Scully held a 4.0 GPA at TCU and graduated with an English degree in 2024 before earning a master's degree in English-Accelerated in 2025. Throughout her career, she has also been involved in photography. As a wildlife conservation photographer, Scully donates the proceeds of her printed photos to at least nine nonprofit organizations that support conservation efforts. She was one of 100 photographers invited to raise awareness about ocean conservation in a print fundraiser for 100 For the Ocean. With over 150,000 followers on her Instagram, she was able to sell over 100 prints, contributing almost $500,000 in funds.
ABOUT THE PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD
The Pillar of Purple Award is presented to at least one member of a TCU men's and women's athletic team. The award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of college athletes from all sports at TCU. To be eligible, nominees must have competed and earned a varsity letter in a TCU sponsored sport.
It is expected that student-athletes selected for the Pillar of Purple Award will exemplify high standards of citizenship, character and courage. This is an award that recognizes the totality of the student-athlete's commitment to excellence. The committee takes the collection of all criteria into consideration in making a decision.
The awardees will receive a plaque or other suitable acknowledgment to be determined by the IAC, be recognized at the annual spring athletic banquet and have their accomplishments noted in an appropriate location in the TCU Library.
For more information about the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee and the Pillar of Purple Award, visit https://fsn.tcu.edu/committees/intercollegiate-athletic-committee/.
PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD RECIPIENTS
2019 – Kianna Ray (women's basketball) and Brendan Barry (men's swimming)
2020 – Kellton Hollins (football) and Rachel Kimbell (rifle)
2021 – Kevin Chao (men's swimming and diving), Tijana Duricek (women's soccer) and Emma Schmidt (women's basketball)
2022 – Dominic DiNunzio (football), Madilyn Cole (volleyball) and Megan Morris (women's swimming and diving)
2023 – Lisa Johnson (swimming) and Luke Savage (baseball)
2024 – Bryce Flynn (swimming and diving), Summer Holt (women's soccer), Landon McMonagle (men's swimming and diving) and Jasmin Muhammad-Graham (women's track and field)
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