Penn State women’s volleyball coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley was met with a standing ovation as she took the stage Wednesday night at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles to accept the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance during ESPN’s The ESPYS.
Schumacher-Cawley received the award, named for the college basketball coach and commentator Jim Valvano, after leading the Nittany Lions to a national championship in 2024 while battling stage 2 breast cancer, becoming the first woman coach to win an NCAA Division I title in the sport.
A segment introducing the Penn State alumna’s story during the ABC broadcast offered an inside look at her journey, with insight from the coach, her family, players and staff. It detailed how she learned of her diagnosis in September and how often she would spend the day exhausted by chemotherapy treatment but was still determined to get to practice with her team.
Schumacher-Cawley completed chemotherapy treatment in February, two months after the Nittany Lions’ thrilling run to the title.
An ambassador for the V Foundation for Cancer Research, Schumacher-Cawley echoed its founder’s call of “don’t ever give up,” during her remarks.
“This is bigger than me and bigger than this stage. Because this is about hope, it’s about every person sitting in a chemo chair right now wondering if they can keep going,” she said.
Watch the full segment on Schumacher-Cawley and her acceptance speech. A transcript of the speech is below.
Transcript of Katie Schumacher-Cawley’s Jimmy V Award Acceptance Speech
Let’s give it up to the Penn State girls in the back there.
Simone, thank you for taking a picture with my daughter last night. Yeah, it’s big time. Little SheaShea was so excited. So the internet has gone wild for her. So thank you.
Thank you to ESPN and the ESPYs for having me. Congratulations to all tonight’s winners, especially my guy Saquon. Fly Eagles. Penn Stater, right? Let’s go. I know. I’m sitting near some Ohio State guys, but that’s all right. I got love for you.
I’m beyond humbled and truly grateful for this moment. This past year has been one I could have never imagined. It’s been filled with challenges, with grit, with tears, but also with perspective, purpose and unbelievable love.
Cancer changed my life, but it didn’t take it. It didn’t take my belief, it didn’t take my spirit, and it didn’t take my team.
I have so many people to thank, to the entire family in State College, Chicago and Pittsburgh, especially Mike, Stella, Nora, Shea, and my mom. Let’s get them on TV. They deserve it. Let’s go. You’ve been my rock, my strength. You gave me mine. You showed up in every moment, even the hard ones, with love, humor and unwavering support.
Thanks to my doctors at UPenn and Mount Nittany Medical. A person does not fight cancer alone. Yeah, give it. Let’s go. The medical professionals who help so many of us are such heroes.
Thanks to everyone at Penn State, especially my staff. They made this whole season possible. Let’s give it up for my staff please. And thank you to my team and my former players. You inspired me every day to keep fighting and you reminded me what it means to be something part of something bigger than yourself. That jersey we wear means everything and the bond we share is unbreakable. Sports are amazing and these women and the women that came before have set the stage to where we are now.
Lastly I’d like to thank Coach Valvano and the foundation. To be a part of this mission that says ‘don’t ever give up’ is a privilege. This is bigger than me and bigger than this stage. Because this is about hope, it’s about every person sitting in a chemo chair right now wondering if they can keep going, especially my friend Dylan. My friend Dylan I met here with Make-a-Wish, he’s got a battle ahead of him and he’s going to do this and you can do it. I will keep fighting for you.
i share this with everyone who’s ever faced this disease, the survivors, with those still fighting and with the ones that we’ve lost, especially my dad. This is for you.
Keep showing up, keep believing and please never ever give up. Thank you so much.
