Dec. 3, 2014
INDIANAPOLIS – Vanderbilt’s Kendall Shaw and James Siakam are not only making an impact for the Commodore basketball teams, but they are making an impact in the community, too.
Shaw (a redshirt sophomore on the WBB team) and Siakim (a senior on the MBB team) have been recognized for the volunteer work they do, and on Wednesday, the two Vanderbilt players were among the 251 nominees for the 2015 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams®. This prestigious community service award recognizes a distinguished group of student-athletes who have demonstrated a commitment to enriching the lives of others and contributing to the greater good in their communities. The award is sponsored by The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), and Allstate Insurance Company.
Shaw has routinely volunteered her time to work with the Nashville Dolphins — a local swim team that is designed to help special-needs children. She has worked at a Halloween event at Harris Hillman School, where she passed out candy, and volunteered at the school fair at Eakin Elementary. Shaws has also done class reading projects at Eakin, and has taken stuffed animals to Children’s Hospital as part of Vanderbilt WBB’s Teddy Bear Toss campaign.
Siakam frequently volunteers at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and the Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital on the Vanderbilt campus, and is one of the first Commodore players to volunteer for community service projects.
College sports information directors and basketball coaches across the country nominated players who exhibit exceptional leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to volunteerism. From the 93 WBCA nominees and 158 NABC nominees, distinguished voting panels will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA® Division I level and five student-athletes from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.
“The accomplishments of student-athletes extend far beyond successes achieved on the court, and Allstate is proud to recognize this exceptional group of young women and men for the positive impact they are making in their communities,” said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2015 WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® selection panels. “Their stories of powerful and selfless acts, shared by SIDs and coaches across the nation, represent the best of collegiate student-athletes and serve as an inspiration to us all.”
For the third year, the Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® help spotlight the off-the-court good works and service to others that often goes unnoticed and unrewarded. From creating organizations benefitting at-risk youth to volunteering overseas to help impoverished communities, there are countless remarkable stories of service among this year’s group of nominees. As full-time students and athletes, these players choose to dedicate their limited free time to improving the lives of those around them.
“The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is a prominent award that honors those student-athletes who serve the community,” said Danielle Donehew, executive director of the WBCA. “We celebrate the commitment these 93 nominees have made to their respective communities and we are grateful to Allstate for recognizing these individuals for their exceptional efforts.”
Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2015 NABC Convention and 2015 NCAA Men’s Final Four® in Indianapolis, where they will participate in a community project benefitting the host city. Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2015 WBCA Convention and at the 2015 NCAA Women’s Final Four® in Tampa Bay, and will also participate in a local community project. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the WBCA, NABC and NCAA.
“In this third year of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® program, we had an overwhelming response with 158 nominations for 2015,” said NABC Executive Director Jim Haney. “There are so many young men and women in college basketball today who make extraordinary and selfless contributions locally, nationally and globally. This is a tremendous opportunity to not only recognize the best of the best but honor all of these student-athletes for their achievements away from the court.”
Former Duke University student-athlete, two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill will headline the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® voting panel, while WNBA basketball star Tamika Catchings, who played at the University of Tennessee, will serve on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® panel. In addition to Hollander, Hill and Catchings, the 2015 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Greg Anthony (UNLV), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State) and Alana Beard (Duke); former head coaches Bobby Cremins (College of Charleston), Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech), Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech) and Nell Fortner (Auburn); current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State); and media members Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS), Dana O’Neil (ESPN), Carolyn Peck (ESPN) and LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX).
Since 2008, Allstate has worked with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as sponsor of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®, which shines a spotlight on the positive, off-the-field impact college football student-athletes have on their communities. Through an arrangement with the AFCA, WBCA and NABC, Allstate has been able to expand the Good Works Team® to also recognize college basketball student-athletes at all levels who donate their time and effort to make a difference off the court.
The following players have been nominated for consideration to be named to the 2015 Allstate WBCA Good Works Team®:
NCAA DIVISION I WOMEN’S NOMINEES
Arizona State University – Sophie Brunner
Bradley University – Fantasia Vine
Campbell University – Juli Osborne
Colgate University – Carole Harris
College of the Holy Cross – Raquel Scott
College of William & Mary – Kyla Kerstetter
Columbia University – Devon Roeper
Drake University – Kyndal Clark
Duke University – Elizabeth Williams
East Carolina University – Abria Trice
Florida State University – Emiah Bingley
Georgetown University – Ki-Ke Rafiu
Georgia Institute of Technology – Kaela Davis
Harvard University – AnnMarie Healy
Manhattan College – Jacqui Thompson
Marist College – Maggie Gallagher
Mississippi State University – Savannah Carter
North Carolina State University – Ashley Eli
Northwestern University – Alex Cohen
Oakland University – Elena Popkey
Penn State University – Tori Waldner
Pepperdine University – Bria Richardson
Quinnipiac University – Jasmine Martin
Rice University – Christal Porter
Rider University – Marritta Gillcrease
Saint Louis University – Desirae Ball
Seattle University – Renee Dillard-Brown
South Dakota State University – Megan Stuart
St. Francis College – Sarah Benedetti
Stephen F. Austin State University – Brittney Matthew
Stony Brook University – Brittany Snow
Texas Tech University – Minta Spears
Tulane University – Jamie Kaplan
University of Alabama – Nikki Hegstetter
University of Colorado – Jasmine Sborov
University of Delaware – Stephanie Leon
University of Denver – Theresa Wirth
University of Florida – Kayla Lewis
University of Iowa – Kali Peschel
University of Kentucky – Bria Goss
University of Maine – Elizabeth Wood
University of Maryland, Baltimore County – Pandora Wilson
University of Michigan – Nicole Elmblad
University of Nevada – Julia Shelbourn
University of New Mexico – Antiesha Brown
University of Pittsburgh – Brianna Kiesel
University of South Carolina – Elem Ibiam
University of Tennessee – Cierra Burdick
University of Toledo – Sophie Reecher
University of Utah – Danielle Rodriguez
University of Virginia – Sarah Beth Barnette
University of Wisconsin – Michala Johnson
Vanderbilt University – Kendall Shaw
West Virginia University – Averee Fields
Western Kentucky University – Alexis Govan
Wichita State University – Alex Harden
NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S NOMINEES Abilene Christian University – Parker Wentz
American University – Darius “Pee Wee” Gardner
Appalachian State University – Michael Obacha
Arizona State University – Sai Tummala
Auburn University – KT Harrell
Belmont University – Reece Chamberlain
Brigham Young University – Tyler Haws
Central Michigan University – Chris Fowler
College of Charleston – Canyon Barry
Creighton University – Austin Chatman
Duke University – Marshall Plumlee
East Carolina University – Caleb White
Eastern Kentucky University – Deverin Muff
Fairleigh Dickinson University – Mustafaa Jones
Florida State University – Aaron Thomas
Fordham University – Bryan Smith
Fresno State University – Alex Davis
George Mason University – Marko Gujanicic
Georgia State University – R.J. Hunter
Georgetown University – Jabril Trawick
Gonzaga University – Kevin Pangos
Hofstra University – Dion Nesmith
Illinois State University – Bobby Hunter
Indiana State University – Justin Gant
Iowa State University – Georges Niang
Kansas State University – Brian Rohleder
Marist College – Tourron Whitfield
McNeese State University – Kevin Hardy
Mercer University – Darious Moten
Michigan State University – Travis Trice
Middle Tennessee State University – Jacquez Rozier
Morgan State University – Blake Bozeman
North Carolina Central University – Karamo Jawara
North Carolina State University – Ralston Turner
Northwestern University – Tre Demps
Oakland University – Corey Petros
Penn State University – Kevin Montminy
Quinnipiac University – Zaid Hearst
Rice University – Max Guercy
Rider University – Emerson Bursis
Saint Joseph’s University – Chris Wilson
Sam Houston State University – DeMarcus Gatlin
Santa Clara University – Dominic Romeo
Siena College – Brett Bisping
Stanford University – Chasson Randle
Stephen F. Austin State University – Jacob Parker
Stony Brook University – Rayshaun McGrew
Syracuse University – Rakeem Christmas
Texas A&M University – Jordan Green
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi – Cole Martinez
Texas Tech University – Clark Lammert
The Citadel – Quinton Marshall
THE Ohio State University – Shannon Scott
University of California, Los Angeles- Norman Powell
University of Arizona – T.J. McConnell
University of California, Berkeley – David Kravish
University of California-Irvine – Mamadou Ndiaye
University of Colorado – Josh Scott
University of Denver – Brett Olson
University of Georgia – Marcus Thornton
University of Houston – Mikhail McLean
University of Iowa – Aaron White
University of Maryland-Eastern Shore – Ishaq Pitt
University of Memphis – Shaq Goodwin
University of Nebraska – Shavon Shields
University of Nebraska-Omaha – Kyler Erickson
University of North Carolina – Marcus Paige
University of North Carolina-Asheville – Corey Littlejohn
University of North Carolina-Wilmington – Cedrick Williams
University of Northern Colorado – Cody McDavis
University of Northern Iowa – Max Martino
University of Notre Dame – Pat Connaughton
University of Pittsburgh – Cameron Wright
University of Richmond – Kendall Anthony
University of San Diego – Johnny Dee
University of South Carolina – Michael Carrera
University of South Carolina Upstate – Ty Greene
University of South Dakota – Brandon Bos
University of Tennessee – Josh Richardson
University of Texas – Tarale Murry
University of the Pacific – T.J. Wallace
University of Toledo – Justin Drummond
University of Utah – Brandon Taylor
University of Virginia – Malcolm Brogdon
University of Wisconsin – Josh Gasser
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – Matt Tiby
U.S. Naval Academy (Navy) – Kevin Alter
Utah State University – Sean Harris
Valparaiso University – Alec Peters
Vanderbilt University – James Siakam
Villanova University – Ryan Arcidiacono
Wagner College – Greg Senat
Wake Forest University – Aaron Rountree III
West Virginia University – Juwan Staten
Wofford College – Jeremiah Tate
Wright State University – Kendall Griffin
Xavier University – Matt Stainbrook
Yale University – Javier Duren
