Student Spotlight: Khot Juac '24
As one of the most highly decorated distance runners in USF history, Khot Juac was not ready to end her storied cross country and track career after graduation last spring. After earning degrees in psychology and criminal justice, she also wasn’t done with her pursuit of academic excellence.
“I want to practice law, so continuing my education with USF’s MBA program made sense to me,” explains Khot. “Already I can see the principles I learned as an undergrad being applied in classes like ethical management.”
The Sioux Falls native toured USF on the recommendation of her high school track coach, a USF alum who spoke highly of the university and its cross country and track programs. She committed to USF after the visit and has bled purple ever since.
She credits her strong relationships with USF’s faculty and coaches for helping her succeed as a student-athlete.
“We are sometimes gone for long stretches and it can be hard to stay on top of everything in the classroom,” she says. “The professors support student-athletes and help us manage our time. They are very understanding as long as we maintain open communication.”
That support paid off for Khot.
As an undergraduate, Khot was named to the NSIC’s All-Academic Team of Excellence, received NSIC All-Academic Honors, CSC All-District Honors and was a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award Recipient.
In addition to her success in the classroom, her extensive list of athletic achievements includes NSIC Preseason Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 2024, NCAA D2 Cross Country All-American in 2023 and NSIC Athlete of the Week three years in a row.
When she’s not in class or at practice, Khot enjoys attending campus events and connecting with friends. She was a resident assistant in Grand Island Hall for three years and the experience remains one of her college highlights.
“I loved hanging out with people in my hall,” she says. “Being a resident advisor (RA) and watching the growth in our freshmen was rewarding. I also enjoy being part of a Christian university where people are service-oriented. The USF culture helps me be a better person.”