Congratulations to the following skaters for receiving the following awards from our club! Please scroll down to the bottom of this page for information on how to apply or nominate for our awards!
Congratulations to Marissa Cheyne for being the recipient of the Jack O’Neill Sportsmanship Award for the 2024-2025 membership year!
Graduating Senior Awards
Calling all high school seniors! Make sure you apply for a graduating seniors award through US Figure Skating so that the club can honor you at our end of season party!
2024-2025 Scholastic Award Winners
Scroll down for details on how to apply for one of our scholastic awards!
Grade 6-8: Emily Zhou
Grade 9-12: Gabriella Calbazana
Collegiate/Graduate: Britney Henry
Gerard Renuad Memorial Award
Scroll down for details on how to apply for one of our scholastic awards! This award will be given to an eligible high school senior.
UDFSC 2024-2025 Gold Medalists
Skating Skills: Nicole Kirsanov, Sean Kay, Skyler Kay, Emily Zhou, Yuna Cha, Caitlyn Struven
Solo Pattern Dance: Evan Bertz, Shayna Demick
Solo Free Dance: Nicole Kirsanov
Singles: Samantha Kay, Sean Kay
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 Coach of the Year, Emily Boas!
Congratulations to Nicole Kirsanov for being the recipient of the Sasha Kirsanov Passion for Skating Award for the 2024-2025 membership year!
Test Achievement Awards
Congratulations to the following skaters for passing nine or more tests in a membership year: Evan Bertz, Sean Kay, Skyler Kay, Deneeka Higgins
Apply to be a UDFSC award winner!!
Annual Academic Awards for UDFSC
University of Delaware Figure Skating Club will be honoring skaters who qualify for the Scholastic Honors Awards and the Gerard Renaud Memorial Award. Only UDFSC home club members are eligible to apply. Below is some information on what is needed to apply for the awards. The awards applications should be based on the most recent skating season, June 2nd (last year) – June 1st (current year), and the school year within that skating season. All application requirements should be sent to uofdfsc@gmail.com. Good luck, and we look forward to seeing your videos!
Scholastic Honors Award (By grade level group: K-2($50), Grade 3-5($50), Grade 6-8($100), Grade 9-12($100), Collegiate/Graduate Program ($100)
A Scholastic Honors Award will be presented to a skater in each grade level group who has shown a dedication to skating combined with a commitment to academic excellence during the past year (June 2 – June 1). In order to be considered for this award, a skater must submit their name and grade level in an email, and provide the requested documentation of tests passed, as well as competitions entered and event finishes. The skater must be enrolled in an accredited school with a 3.5 minimum GPA. Skaters must submit a copy of their most recent grade report along with a short one page essay on how skating has made a positive impact on the skater’s life. A monetary award and certificate of accomplishment will be presented to award winners. (Home schooled students will not be considered.)
Gerard Renaud Memorial Award (only graduating high school seniors will be considered)
The Gerard Renaud Memorial Award will be presented to the high school senior who most exemplifies Jerry’s commitment to hard work and excellence through their skating and their academic performance. High school seniors enrolled in and attending an accredited school may submit their documentation of tests, competitions, (June 2nd- June 1st), a copy of their most recent grade report and a short one page essay on how skating has made a positive impact on the skater’s life. A monetary award and certificate of accomplishment will be presented. (Home schooled students will not be considered.)
How to access your test and competition information:
Log into USFS at http://www.usfigureskating.org. Click on Members Only in the top right hand side of the page. Log in using your Member # and password. Go to your Account tab on the far right and go to Member profile. Click on the Skate tests tab and print out the relevant information. Click on the Competitions tab and repeat. Submit copies with your application email.
Jack O’Neill Sportsmanship Award
Jack O’Neill was the cofounder of the Ice Skating Science Development Program at the University of Delaware and a member of the Delaware Olympic Committee. An accomplished athlete and mentor, Jack helped motivate people to be their best. This award was created in his memory by Ron Ludington and Gary Irving to recognize one UDFSC skater each year who upheld Jack’s standards of good sportsmanship within our skating community. Sportsmanship is defined as fair and respectful behavior and treatment of others, especially during competitions. Good sportsmanship is evident in those athletes who are supportive of teammates and competitors, have a positive attitude, show respect regardless of competitive outcomes, and are willing to learn from their mistakes. This prestigious award will be presented at the club’s end of year celebration.
To be eligible for this award, skaters must be a UDFSC Home Club skater who qualified for and competed at a National event or final (US Championship, US Solo Dance Series Final, US Synchronized Skating Championship, US Adult Figure Skating Championship, US Excel Series Final, US Intercollegiate Final) in the past year. This skater will be voted on by the current UDFSC board.
If you know of a skater who qualifies and is deserving of this award, please nominate them by filling out this form! Nominations may only be submitted by UDFSC club members.
If you have any questions regarding award eligibility, please reach out to uofdfsc@gmail.com.
Ron Ludington Coach of the Year Award
Ron Ludington devoted his life to skating. After retiring from competition, he took to coaching. He coached skaters of all ages and levels, including World and Olympic competitors. Luddy was also the director of the Ice Skating Science Development Program at the University of Delaware and created one of the best skating programs in the country. Aside from his personal achievements as a coach, he also helped mentor others to be better coaches. Luddy helped create the Figure Skating Sciences program at the University of Delaware, where UD students learned how to be successful coaches. He taught the skating coaching courses, creating a fun and exciting atmosphere for students to develop their skills. He also provided coaching mentorship, allowing students to work side-by-side with top UD coaches. His love for coaching never faded and neither will the impact he had on his skaters and the coaches he mentored.
The Ron Ludington Coach of the Year Award will be provided to a UDFSC coach who shares Luddy’s passion for coaching and dedication to their students. This coach will be voted on by the current UDFSC board.
To be eligible for this award, coaches must be members of the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and be compliant with all US Figure Skating requirements. If you know of a coach who qualifies and is deserving of this award, please nominate them by filling out this form! Nominations may only be submitted by UDFSC club members.
If you have any questions regarding award eligibility, please reach out to uofdfsc@gmail.com.
Sasha Kirsanov Passion for Skating Award
Sasha (Alexandr) Kirsanov was a beloved coach, colleague, and friend. Sasha’s remarkable journey in skating spanned countries and decades, but his heart always remained on the ice. After a successful competitive career, Sasha found his true calling in coaching. At the University of Delaware, he worked with skaters of all ages and skill levels, from young ice dance teams to collegiate skaters and adults. He did not care about titles or rankings – he simply wanted every skater to find joy in the process and pride in their progress. Sasha spent countless hours at the rink, first chasing his own dreams, and then helping others achieve theirs, all while supporting his family and inspiring everyone around him. His humor, passion, and love for the sport left a lasting impact on the UD skating community. While his time with us was tragically cut short, his legacy will remain with everyone he encountered.
The Sasha Kirsanov Passion for Skating Award will be provided to a UDFSC skater who shares Sasha’s deep love for the ice, brings the same wholehearted dedication to the sport, and brings positive energy to those around them.
To be eligible for this award, skaters must be a UDFSC Home Club skater (any level or discipline). This skater will be voted on by the current UDFSC board. Nominations may only be submitted by UDFSC members.
Test Achievement Award
UDFSC will be honoring skaters who have passed an outstanding amount of tests (usually 9 or more) with a certificate at our annual end of year celebration. Certificates will be given to all Home Club members who pass large numbers of tests in any discipline of tested skating (Skating Skills, Ice Dance, Pairs, or Singles).
Gold Test Awards
If you choose to purchase the USFS Gold Medal for any USFS Gold Test that you pass UDFSC will contribute a portion (usually 50%) of the cost. Once you’ve passed the test, please email us at uofdfsc@gmail.com and we will make arrangements to reimburse a portion of the cost of the medal to you. This applies to UDFSC home club skaters who have passed the gold level test in the period of January 2016 to the present. Skaters will also be awarded certificates from the club for passing these tests at the end of year celebration.
*Please note that this is not a reimbursement for test fees.
University of Delaware Figure Skating Club 