Colorado Springs, Colo. (May 25, 2025) – The 2025 Callahan Award ceremonies took place at the 2025 USA Ultimate D-I College Championships, held in Burlington, Washington.
In 2025, Dexter Clyburn from University of California Ursa Major and Laura Blume from UC-Santa Barbara Burning Skirts were announced as the most valuable players in the college division, an award voted on by players from the college division.
For the University of California, Clyburn makes history as the first athlete from Ursa Major to win the award. Clyburn led Ursa Major to four consecutive appearances at College Championships, with a fifth-place finish in 2022. At the 2025 College Championships, Clyburn led the men’s division in assists with 31 dimes and adding six goals. A recent standout at the international level with Team USA, Clyburn finished 2025 with a gold medal from the U-24 World Championships in Spain and a first-place finish with San Francisco Revolver in the club world. From Maplewood, New Jersey, congratulations to Dexter Clyburn.
For University of California-Santa Barbara, Blume makes more history for the Burning Skirts, marking the second winner in program history. Blume wins the 2025 Callahan Award, the second UC-SB player in five years to win the award after Jasmine Childress in 2021. A three-year captain for Burning Skirts, Blume has competed at College Championships all four seasons since starting to play ultimate in 2021. At the 2025 College Championships, Blume finished with 18 assists and 13 goals, leading Burning Skirts to a ninth-place finish. A standout on the international scene with France and a three-year member of San Diego Flipside in the club world, Blume is a major contributor to Burning Skirts’ seven consecutive appearance streak at college’s premier event. From Chicago, Illinois, congratulations to Laura Blume.
Founded in 1996 by Charles Kerr, the award is named after Henry Callahan, an ultimate player and one of the sport’s original organizers. Each year, the Callahan is awarded to the most valuable players in college ultimate, as voted on by their peers.
The top five finalists in each division, in alphabetical order, were as follows:
2025 Men’s Division Finalists:
- Benjamin Dameron – North Carolina Darkside
- Chander Boyd-Fliegel – Oregon Ego
- Dexter Clyburn – California Ursa Major
- Kyle Lew – Cal Poly-SLO SLOCORE
- Tristan Yarter – Pittsburgh En Sabah Nur
2025 Women’s Division Finalists:
- Abbi Shilts – UC-San Diego Dragon Coalition
- Emily Pozzy – Vermont Ruckus
- Emma Williamson – Colorado Quandary
- Laura Blume – UC-Santa Barbara Burning Skirts
- Lia Schwartz – Tufts Ewo