June 23, 2009
Track and field standout Ronnetta Alexander was awarded the Wilma Rudolph Award on June 12, given to student athletes who have overcome great personal, academic, and/or emotional odds to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics. Use the video link above to watch the feature in its entirety or read the transcript below of the story told by Ronnetta and her family.
Ronnetta Alexander: My story began when I was a young girl. My mom was a single parent and my dad struggled from his own issues. It was a rough time growing up, and at the age of 12, I was given the opportunity to live with my grandmother.
Lois Alexander (Ronetta’s Grandmother): She’s my ideal granddaughter. She’s a really nice kid and she’s always been.
Ronnetta Alexander: My granny is my world. And, I don’t think I would be here today if it wasn’t for her and the opportunities she gave me.
I decided to do track and I realized it was an outlet for me.
Curtis Frye (South Carolina Head Coach): Ronetta kind of recruited us and then all of a sudden she ended up being great. But, the big thing that made her come here and recruit us was the fact that we could help her do what she wanted to do and that was be a world-class hurdler, but get her degree in pharmacy and lots of schools just didn’t have that option for her.
Ronnetta Alexander: It was very tough getting in. With a full-time track schedule, it didn’t seem realistic to be able to do both.
Dr. Wayne Buff (College of Pharmacy Associate Dean): It’s very challenging, challenging for a student just as a regular student, but even more challenging for a student-athlete.
Ronnetta Alexander: I was determined and with everyone around me, with the support and everyone I had around me, I was able to do so.
While I pursued both academically, my sister’s health came into question, and it wasn’t even anything I needed to think about. It was the best decision for my family and me. I brought her in and I raised her for two years.
Ronquette Alexander (Ronetta’s Sister): I got a lot of opportunities that I didn’t get when I lived with my mom down here, and she helped me keep my grades up.
Ronnetta Alexander: It was hard; it definitely wasn’t easy, but I couldn’t have done it without all my teammates around me.
Curtis Frye: Take her sister and do for her sister what her grandmother had done for her; she was willing to take on that challenge, so we were willing to be here to help. We’re going to help them in good times and bad.
Lois Alexander: Well, we know ‘Netta. She can do anything that she wants to.
Dr. Wayne Buff: I know it’s been very difficult for her, particularly going through an injury situation, a serious injury situation at a time when probably the coursework was at its peak.
Ronnetta Alexander: My senior year, I was at a community service event and I ruptured my Achilles.
Curtis Frye: An athlete, great athletes don’t get down as long as they’re performing high. They can handle the stresses of difficult term papers and 11-hour floor shifts if they can run.
Ronnetta Alexander: A lot of things have been taken away from me, and track was my outlet in life. And, I stopped questioning why it happened to me because they said I would never be the same, or I would never be able to do what I love to do so much. That injury was a part of my life, but I don’t think it hindered me. It made me stronger.
Lois Alexander: I’m so excited. I’ve been just counting the days for six years, so now the time is almost here, and I’m just proud of her.
Ronquette Alexander: It means a lot because she’s going to be the first person in our family to ever graduate, and I want to be just like her. I’m proud of her.
Dr. Wayne Buff: To see someone not only accomplish academically, but to do the things that she has accomplished athletically, it’s amazing to me.
Curtis Frye: It’s a promise come true. It’s something that gives us the opportunity to continue to tell other young people that if you come to Carolina, that you can attain All-American, you can be a SEC champion, and then you can be a doctor.
