Juggling school and basketball can be an enormous challenge for student-athletes. However, some dedicate their free time and energy into making their schools, communities and even the world better places. For those unique individuals, the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® was created.
The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® enters its fifth year of recognizing outstanding groups of women’s college basketball student-athletes. From establishing nonprofits that provide youth with the necessary tools to become leaders of tomorrow, to raising awareness around pertinent issues that could save lives, the student-athletes nominated for this prestigious award embody the true spirit of teamwork and giving back.
A total of 97 women were nominated by WBCA member coaches across the country to be part of the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®. The student-athletes selected for the 10-member team, five from NCAA Division I and five from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA, were chosen by a high-profile voting panel and announced on February 7.
Out of those nominees, the following student-athletes have been named to the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:
NCAA Division I
Ivy Atkism, Clemson University (Junior/post)
Organized a bone marrow registry drive on campus, recruiting more than 50 people to sign up.
Angie Davison, University of Northern Iowa (Senior/guard)
Dedicated time to The Job Foundation — a program that educates underprivileged youth about the importance of financial education and making good grades.
Britta Hall, Utah Valley University (Sophomore/guard)
Took 18 months off from school to serve as a volunteer missionary in Santiago, Chile, where she gave free English lessons and helped the community.
Michaela Rasmussen, University of Toledo (Junior/forward)
Volunteered at Sunshine Therapeutic Riding Program — a horseback-riding program for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Sandra Udobi, St. John’s University (Graduate/forward)
Traveled home to Nigeria each summer to run in the capital city an instructional basketball game that seeks to educate girls about how best to succeed on and off the court.
NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA
Holly Denfeld, Milwaukee School of Engineering (Senior/forward)
Aided in the development of Kayla’s Krew Playground — an all-accessible, all-inclusive playground in Franklin, Wisconsin.
Haley Joly, St. Edward’s University (Junior/forward)
Worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help children’s wishes come true.
Katie Ringdahl, Ave Maria University (Sophomore/forward)
Collected sneakers for ReRun Sneakers — a nonprofit organization that gives sneakers to underprivileged children and adults.
Grace Smith, Kalamazoo College (Senior/guard)
Organized and ran numerous Special Olympics events, including bowling and soccer tournaments.
Raquel Torres, Metropolitan State University of Denver (Senior/guard)
Volunteered at the Girls Inc. of Metro Denver — a nonprofit that seeks to empower young girls.
Members of the 2017 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2017 WBCA Convention and the 2017 NCAA® Women’s Final Four® in Dallas, where they will participate in a local volunteer project benefitting residents of the host city.
For more information on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®, visit wbca.org.
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