LA JOLLA, Calif. — Senior cross country and track and field scholar-athlete Tate Meaux has been named a recipient of the Big West Service and Leadership Award, recognizing his exceptional commitment to service, leadership, academics, and athletics throughout his collegiate career.

The Big West has recognized scholar-athletes through the Service and Leadership Award annually since the 2017-18 academic year. The honor is awarded at the discretion of each member institution and celebrates individuals who exemplify excellence in service, leadership, and academics while making meaningful contributions to their campuses and communities.

A Communications major with a minor in Business, Meaux has established himself as a leader both on campus and within the conference. He serves as President of the Triton Athlete Council (TAC), represents UC San Diego on the Big West Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was a three-time captain of the cross country program.

Through his leadership roles, Meaux has advocated for scholar-athletes, helped strengthen campus engagement, and represented the Triton voice on issues affecting scholar-athletes across the conference. His dedication to creating positive change earned him the 2026 Triton Changemaker Award, which recognizes scholar-athletes who make a lasting impact through leadership and service.

Meaux's commitment to serving others is reflected through his involvement in numerous community initiatives, including Adopt-a-Family, Headstrong's Ride Smart Helmet Awareness campaign, and the Toler Elementary Halloween Carnival. His efforts have helped foster meaningful connections between UC San Diego Athletics and the surrounding community.

His leadership has also been recognized on a national level. Meaux was selected to participate in both the NCAA Leadership Forum and the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, prestigious programs designed to develop and empower future leaders in collegiate athletics.

In the classroom, Meaux has earned Big West Academic All-Conference honors three times, demonstrating his commitment to academic excellence while balancing the demands of collegiate athletics.
On the course and track, Meaux qualified twice for both the Big West Cross Country Championships and the Big West Track & Field Championships during his career.

Meaux's dedication to leadership, service, and academic achievement embodies the spirit of the award and leaves a lasting legacy within UC San Diego Athletics and the Big West Conference.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 84 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.