ATLANTA, Ga. (July 11, 2025) - The Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) has announced the winner for the prestigious Woman of the Year award. This award recognizes the top female student-athlete for her athletic, academic, service, and leadership involvement during the academic year.

Belhaven’s Ellie Jones has been named the 2025 CCS Woman of the Year honoree. She is the second Blazer softball player to receive this honor.

“It is truly a privilege to honor this year’s CCS Man and Woman of the Year recipients, along with an exceptional group of nominees. The level of commitment, achievement, and leadership shown by these student-athletes is nothing short of inspiring. Their success both on the field and in their communities sets a powerful example for others,” said CCS Commissioner Beth Vansant. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Yannick Wassmer Navarro and Ellie Jones, as well as all the nominees, for their remarkable contributions and for raising the bar of excellence within our conference.”

Ellie Jones, a recent graduate from Belhaven University, has been named the 2025 CCS Woman of the Year, a distinction that recognizes her remarkable achievements in athletics, academics, and community service. Ellie’s journey exemplifies the true spirit of the CCS and Division III athletics, where academic excellence, athletic achievement, and community service come together to shape well-rounded leaders.
Ellie’s athletic career at Belhaven has been nothing short of extraordinary. She broke program single-season records in batting average (.519), slugging percentage (.939), and on-base percentage (.571) in 2025. She also topped the league in slugging percentage (.939). Over the course of her career, Ellie earned a spot in Belhaven's Top 5 Career Records for home runs (34), RBIs (159), bases (377), batting average (.397), runs (143), and hits (227).

In 2024, Ellie played a pivotal role in leading Belhaven Softball to its first-ever NCAA Division III Women’s College World Series appearance, finishing as the national runner-up. Individually, Ellie was named 2025 CCS Player of the Year and earned first-team honors after securing second-team honors in 2023. She was also recognized as the 2022 Freshman of the Year, and in addition to her NFCA All-Region selection, Ellie was named NFCA All-American in 2022. 

In the classroom, Ellie maintained the same level of excellence. She graduated summa cum laude, earning Dean's List, President's List, and Academic All-District honors. Ellie’s commitment to her studies earned her the prestigious Matthew 20:28 Award, presented to the graduating senior who shows the greatest service and character. She was also named an Academic All-American in 2025, a testament to her dedication to both her academic and athletic pursuits.

But Ellie’s influence extends far beyond the classroom and the field. Throughout her time at Belhaven, she was an active volunteer with several organizations. She spent four years volunteering at the Mississippi Children’s Museum, helping foster an interest in science among youth. Ellie also served as a member and officer for the American Chemical Society, where she played a key role in planning events and fundraisers.
Her commitment to service was also evident through her work with We Will Go, where she spent two years helping to organize and deliver food to underserved communities in Jackson, MS. Ellie’s dedication to giving back didn’t stop there—she also volunteered with the Mississippi Agriculture Museum and the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, along with serving as a tutor for the math and biology departments at Belhaven. Additionally, Ellie volunteered as a coach for her travel softball team and assisted with Belhaven Softball camps.

Here’s what Ellie had to say about her journey:

 "My athletic career has been one of the greatest opportunities for growth in my leadership capabilities. As a two-year captain of the Belhaven University volleyball team, I stepped into a position that required emotional intelligence, responsibility, and humility. It was on the softball field however, where I played in four NCAA tournaments, advanced to three Super Regionals, and competed in a national championship where I truly came to understand leadership without a title. Surrounded by strong, self-led women, I witnessed many styles of leadership and learned to lead in my own way. This environment empowered me to grow at my own pace, fostering a deep respect for servant leadership and team-first mentality."

Here’s what others had to say about Ellie:

Associate Athletics Director and Head Softball Coach Kevin Griffin

Ellie will be remembered in the record books as one of the best to ever play softball at Belhaven. Her accomplishments on the field speak for themselves, but I am more proud of who she is off the field and the type of character she displayed on a daily basis. I can not think of a better woman to represent our conference.

Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Kenneth Nash

Ellie is full deserving of this recognition with the impacts she has made on and off the field. She’s a world class competitor who established herself as one of the best in the country on the field and she brings the same drive and work ethic to her academics. She has been a fantastic representative of Belhaven and a true embodiment of the name student-athlete.

 
Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Little

It is an honor to have Ellie in the Belhaven family. From the earliest days of her freshman year, we’ve watched her serve others, excel academically, compete fiercely and successfully, and embody the heart of what it means to be a teammate. She has been recognized along the way for achievements on and off the field, and her selection as CCS Woman of the Year is a fitting choice, among a tremendous group of outstanding women in our conference.