Senior Alexia Nelms, representing the University of Rochester volleyball team was named the recipient of the 2025 Terrence L. Gurnett Female-Scholar Athlete award on Monday evening, at the annual University of Rochester Department of Athletics and Recreation Awards Banquet on Monday, May 5.
 
Nelms, a four-year starter and 2-time team captain with the Yellowjackets volleyball team, has enjoyed a terrific career at the University, both athletically and academically.
 
On the court, she ranks seventh all-time in school history with over 2,000 career assists, and has ranked highly throughout all four years on the team in that category with both the University Athletic Association and nationally across Division III.
 
Academically, Nelms received one of ten Lysle 'Spike' Garnish Scholar-Athlete awards in the fall, was named a Provost Circle Scholar last year and is a 2-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree. She also received UAA All-Academic accolades in all three seasons she was eligible and recently was elected to the University of Rochester Phi Beta Kappa class of 2025.
 
In addition, Nelms has received several scholarships and other awards from the University, including the Bilski-Mayer and Meliora Fellowships, Alice Young Youth Triumph Award, Joseph C. Wilson Leader of Change Scholarship and Urban League of Rochester Black Scholars Scholarship.
 
Nelms also has been a member of the Black Student Athlete Coalition (BSAC) at Rochester, part of Keidaeans and has done research in both the Haptics Lab and Marmolab at the University.
 
Inaugurated in 1995, the Terrence L. Gurnett Award is annually presented annually to a female member of the senior class who has both shown excellence in the classroom and serves as a role model for
their fellow students.
 
Terrence "Terry" Gurnett `77, is a former UR student-athlete and head coach, and now serves as the Associate Director of Athletics for Advancement. As an undergrad, Gurnett played on the men's varsity soccer team and upon graduation, served as head coach of the Rochester women's soccer team. His teams won back-to-back NCAA Division III National Championships in 1986 and 1987 and accumulated over 400 victories during his career leading the Yellowjackets from 1978 to 2010.