Chelsea Hawkins on SEC Softball Community Service Team
May 5, 2014
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – South Carolina senior outfielder Chelsea Hawkins garnered a spot on the SEC Softball Community Service Team, the league office announced today.
In a continuing effort to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the field of competition, the SEC once again highlighted a Community Service Team for softball for the 2014 season.
All league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men’s and women’s sports being chosen from 1999-2003. The SEC began this concept with a football Community Service Team in 1994.
Jadyn Spencer • Alabama
Junior • Utility • Waterloo, Iowa
Volunteered with the Tuscaloosa Color Run… Alabama Halloween Extravaganza… `Tailgating with the Stars’ at Sprayberry Elementary… Read Bama Read… Project Angel Tree.
Megan Pearson • Arkansas
Junior • Infielder • Centerville, Ohio
Serves as the secretary and treasurer for Arkansas’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during the 2013-14 season and acts as the liaison in reporting community service opportunities to her teammates…. Helped raise more than $2,000 in donations for Shop with SAAC and was one of several Razorback student-athletes to accompany local elementary school students to Toys-R-Us during the holiday season… Has also been part of Arkansas’ Code Red events at soccer and volleyball matches during the fall semester… An active participant during Hispanic Heritage Month events and Razorback Canned Food Drive… Pearson and her teammates have also volunteered for Book Hogs in which student-athletes visit local elementary schools to read to classes and Sweat Hawgs which promotes healthy eating and exercise habits.
Hilary Mavromat • Auburn
Senior • Infielder/Pitcher • Scottsboro, Ala.
Was a volunteer for the Lee County Humane Society, where she completed training and was able to help take dogs for walks as well as with the upkeep of the Humane Society building… Was a Special Spectator host in which, she hosted a special needs child for a football game… Worked the carpool line at Richland Elementary and aided the school by opening car doors and greeting students and parents as they went to class… Also, was a volunteer for the annual Color Run that promotes healthiness, happiness and individuality… Was a guest speaker at the Dixie Youth Alabama State Tournament and presented the devotion for the teams and their families… Hilary also joined her teammates in being the Master of Ceremonies at the annual Auburn Christmas Parade and also playing in the Strikeout Cancer Pink Game, where all donations and proceeds go directly to breast cancer research at the East Alabama Medical Center.
Niaja Griffin • Georgia
Junior • Outfielder • Orlando, Fla.
Has worked with the Boys and Girls Club since arriving in Athens in 2012 where she has mentored, tutored and facilitated activities and workouts for the kids… Has worked with Special Olympics, volunteering her time with the 5K run and the Home Runs for Hometown Heroes event since 2012… In December of 2013, interacted with and gave out gifts to children who have parents that are in prison… Spent time with the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia, giving out food to nearly 500 needy families in the community… Spoke on anti-bullying and the importance of being a good friend to young girls as a part of the Girl Power Day last fall.
Ginny Carroll • Kentucky
Senior • Outfielder • Hendersonville, Tenn.
Has been very involved in the Lexington community in her time at Kentucky, recording countless community service hours … Every year she has been on campus, Carroll has helped ring the bell for Salvation Army and pack food into backpacks for God’s Pantry Back Pack Program … Carroll volunteered for the SEC Together We Can Food Drive and helped at the Special Olympics Bowling event … Carroll’s other community service works include being a Big Blue U and UK Fusion volunteer, helping at the Southland Christian Church Jesus Prom, packing meals for Christian Student Fellowship and distributing blankets to the UK Children’s Hospital with other UK student-athletes … Carroll is the softball team’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative
Simone Heyward • LSU
Senior • Outfielder • Sacramento, Calif.
She was the 2013 recipient of the Eye of the Tiger award for overcoming adversity at the academic gala… Heyward created a support group, You Are Not Alone (YANA), after experiencing the loss of her mother to cancer where LSU student-athletes help middle and high school students cope with the loss of a loved one, including being active in the team’s Geaux Teal initiative which raises money to women and families affected by ovarian cancer… Heyward, a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll and two-time NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete pick, also volunteers her time at local youth softball tournaments as a coach in and around the Baton Rouge Area… In the community she is also a member of Live2Serve, an organization that goes into lower-income neighborhoods and provides various programs to at-risk youth with mentors serving as role models… Participated in the Miracle League Games opening ceremony, a non-competitive offering for children with physical or mental disabilities… Has served lunch to the homeless with St. Vincent de Paul and participated in Thanksgiving with the Tigers where an LSU team gathered needed clothing and personal items over the holiday season… Was involved in Striking Out ALS to help raise funds and awareness for the disease… Volunteers with Geaux Play, an organization that gathers donated new and gently used sports equipment that is donated to disabled children.
Natalie Nimmo • Mississippi
Senior • Outfielder • Justin, Texas
Visited the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., where she played games with the kids, drew pictures with them and visited with others… Visited the National Civil Rights Museum where she helped with the flow of traffic throughout the museum, answered questions, helped with ticket booths and other needs around the museum on Martin Luther King Jr. Day… Participated in Be a Champion and Read, Adopt-A-Basket, Reading with the Rebels and Rebels Making a Difference.
Jessica Offutt • Mississippi State
Senior • Outfielder • Madison, Ala.
Has continually given her time and effort to those around her, starting with many free softball clinics she has taken part in both on campus and throughout the community and state of Mississippi… Has donated time to East Oktibbeha Elementary School, volunteering to work in the classrooms for a variety of activities… Within the entire Starkville School District, Offutt has worked with the Breakfast of Champions program where local elementary school students get to eat breakfast with Mississippi State student-athletes… In addition to the elementary school work, Offutt has been a Habitat for Humanity volunteer, helping to construct a home in Starkville… She assisted with tornado victims’ relief after the tornado ripped through nearby Tuscaloosa, Ala., in the spring of 2011… In December of 2013, she served as a Salvation Army bell ringer throughout Starkville during the holiday season… Outside the state of Mississippi, Offutt has spent time at LeBonheur Children Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.
Mackenzie Sykes • Missouri
Senior • Outfielder • Blue Springs, Mo.
Throughout her career at Mizzou, Sykes has given back to the local Columbia community and back home in Blue Springs, Mo… Patricipated in Caleb’s Pitch, aiding hospitalized children during their care… Volunteered as a skills station coach for Special Olympics… Volunteer for the Food Bank of Columbia… A sports camp counselor fo Court Appointed Special Advocates/CASA.
Chelsea Hawkins • South Carolina
Senior • Outfielder • Piedmont, S.C.
Has contributed 32 hours of community service during the last year, many helping young softball players to learn more about the game that has given so much to her… Also participated in the SAAC drive for Harvest Hope Food Bank and helped bag lettuce for distribution at a later event… Led a group of others who helped with the American Red Cross’ efforts to send cards to military members abroad during the holidays… Helped lead the team’s efforts in hosting an adoption party for a Friends of Jaclyn member.
Melissa Davin • Tennessee
Senior • Outfielder • Fresno, Calif.
Has been an outstanding role model in community service, leading the Tennessee softball team with 91 hours of community service during the 2013-14 academic year… Most of Davin’s community service involves spending much of her free time with Averi Ramsey, a young cancer patient recovering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia… Averi was adopted by the Tennessee softball team in 2013 through Team IMPACT and she and Davin have been inseparable, enjoying fun activities, day trips and sporting events together… .Has also accompanied Averi to her cancer treatments… Other community service activities include working with Habitat for Humanity, Angels of Hope, the Lakeshore Clinic, Children’s Hospital and King’s Daughter’s School (Columbia, Tenn.).
Allison Garrett • Texas A&M
Senior • Infielder • Austin, Texas
Has been an integral part of Aggies CAN (student-athlete-run canned food drive in conjunction with the Brazos Valley Food Bank) for the past four years … Several events through Aggie Athletes Involved, including coach drives and Hard Hats for Little Heads (a project that provides local elementary school students with bike helmets and bike safety demonstrations), and Film on the Field … Volunteered at the Special Olympics … Sorted food at the BVFB … Helped at the Brazos Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s … Helps with the Junior Aggie Club (a children’s program through Aggie Athletics that provides game day fun for its members).