Gamecock Gala Awards: Gamecock Leadership Award - Madelynne Herlocker
When you ask Madelynne Herlocker why she does something, the frequent answer is, “because it’s the right thing to do.” The senior South Carolina equestrian had a full schedule between athletics commitments, academics, numerous hours of community service, as well as serving on a couple of prominent University committees. For her efforts, Herlocker was recently honored with the Gamecock Leadership Award, which is presented from South Carolina Athletics to individuals who go above and beyond what is expected as part of the Athletics Department to elevate an issue or cause within the community.
“I encourage other student-athletes to take advantage of opportunities to help others,” said Herlocker, who is graduating with a degree in sport and entertainment management. “The typical span of college is four years, and I think you’re wasting your time if you’re not getting everything out of those four years that you can. For me, that looked like getting involved in everything I possibly could. I was very busy and didn’t have a lot of free time, but I’m going to leave college with a really well-rounded experience in being involved in so many different entities and associations.
“I definitely wasn’t expecting (the award) because the things I do are just the right things to do. I was really honored to be picked. It means a lot! I’m very appreciative of all the good things the Athletics Department has done for me in my time at South Carolina.”
In addition to the many hours required for classes as well as practice, competitions and travel for her sport, the Iowa native was deeply immersed in other campus organizations to help out her fellow student-athletes.
“We do community service because it’s the right thing to do to help our community and give back to those in need.”
“I was part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and I was an officer this past year,” Herlocker said. “I enjoyed being able to communicate needs of student-athletes to administration because I wanted to make their experience at South Carolina be the best that it could be.
“I was also part of the University Athletics Advisory Committee, which is designed to bridge the gap between athletics and the general University staff. It brings everyone together, including (Athletics Director) Coach Ray Tanner, (Executive Associate Athletics Director) Maria Hickman and some other people from Athletics along with professors from all of the on-campus colleges. We got together to talk about issues, and it helps create transparency between Athletics and the rest of campus.”
Herlocker spent a lot of time on community service efforts as well, which included many hours involved with Curing Kids Cancer, along with her teammates.
“I’d say it was important because it was the right thing to do,” Herlocker said. “We don’t do community service because we’re required to do it. We do community service because it’s the right thing to do to help our community and give back to those in need.”
“Curing Kids Cancer is an organization that raises money and donates it hospitals around the country to fight childhood cancers. Our team does events with them every semester. The kids would come out to the barn on a Saturday morning, and we’d have a bunch of different stations which included feeding the horses carrots, arts and crafts, they could paint the horse, and they had a chance to ride a horse. If they were old enough and experienced enough, they could play some games on the horses. It was a good opportunity to help them do something fun to take their minds off the situations they were going through.”
In addition to being named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll each year at South Carolina, Herlocker had the honor of being selected as the lone student-athlete from the SEC to attend the Women Leaders in College Sports National Convention in Phoenix, Ariz., last fall.
After finishing up her final practicum, Herlocker will be attending graduate school at Florida, where she has a graduate assistantship set up in the Student Enhancement Department. She looks forward to using her experiences as she moves on to the next stage of her life.
“I’ve made so many great connections in Athletics and at the University and other places,” Herlocker said. “To step up and take on a leadership role has been awesome, but I’ve also enjoyed getting to know more people that way. South Carolina has become a second home to me now. The people I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with have been amazing. I know if I ever need anything, I’ll have a great support system at South Carolina, always!
“The best memories I have from here have to do with my teammates. Those memories will never be replaced.”
