This promises to be an exciting year for Daytona State's varsity sports program. We continue to embrace our holistic approach to bridging the principles of athletics and competition with the high academic standards and achievement expected from our student-athletes. We also challenge our students and staff to be servant leaders, and their enthusiastic involvement in numerous community service learning projects continues to make a positive difference in our local community.

The new academic year begins with great anticipation. The thrill of upcoming competition is heightened by the excellent history of our athletic program and its student-athletes. On the field and in the fairways, our Daytona State Falcons distinguished themselves among the nation's best in 2023-2024, with 5 appearences at NJCAA National Championships in Men's Cross-Country, Women's Cross-Country, Men's Basketball, Womens Volleyball, Women's Golf, and Esports and Region VIII Championships in both Men's and Women's Cross-Country.

Also this past year, our athletes proved once again that Daytona State's philosophy of putting academics first is helping to prepare tomorrow's leaders on and off the field. Academic honors included:

• National Academic Team of the Year - Softball (3.81 team GPA)
• Baseball - 2nd place (3.85 team GPA)
• Women's Golf - 3rd place, (3.82 team GPA)
• Women’s Soccer - 22nd place, (3.53 team GPA)
• Women's Volleyball - 70th place, (3.39 team GPA)
• Women's Cross Country - 31st place, (3.37 team GPA)
• Men's Cross Country - 36th, (3.01 team GPA)
• FCSAA Male Academic Team of the Year - Baseball (18th consecutive) (3.85 team GPA)
• FCSAA Female Academic Team of the Year - Women's Golf (Under 10 participants) (3.82 team GPA)
• FCSAA Female Academic Team of the Year - Women's Softball (Over 10 participants) (3.81 team GPA)
• 109 of 208 Athletes (52%) FCSAA All-Academic Team (3.3 Cum. GPA, min. 18hrs) 
• 27 NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (3.6 GPA)
• 36 NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (3.8 GPA)
• 27 NJCAA All-Academic First Team (4.0 GPA)
• Larry Monts Scholar-Athlete Award - Shannon Jones (Women's Cross-Country) & Brendan Hamilton (Men's Cross- Country) 
• Bill Tuten Award - Xavier Lopez (Baseball)
• 1 Daytona State College Hall of Fame Inductee - Wakaba Kogure (Women's Soccer)
• Athletic Department student cohort earned a cumulative 3.30 GPA for the 2023/24 academic year.

This year promises to be a continuation of academic success for our teams and athletes. I encourage you to get out and see some exciting events and support our student-athletes in all their endeavors during their time at Daytona State. Our collective support matters.

Join me and let's make this year the best ever for our athletic program!

Go Falcons!

Will Dunne, Athletics Director
Daytona State College