AFH U Student-Athlete and Team of the Year Nominees
We are proud to announce this year’s AFH University Student-Athlete & Team of the Year nominees. Each year we are blown away by our student-athletes dedication and commitment to serving their communities as they leave a positive impact wherever they go.
June 27 update: Voting has closed and winners will be announced soon!
AFH U Student-Athlete of the Year Nominees
Erin Junkman, Georgetown Women’s Soccer
Erin has worked to connect the Georgetown female student-athletes in her role as president of the SAAC with opportunities to speak about mental health and connect with the brand SPRHA to unpack the shared aspects of the female student-athlete experience that impact performance, such as uniforms impacting the way we feel and care about our bodies thus limiting the way we play. Erin has done a tremendous job creating a community and opportunities to connect with one another in a meaningful way, promoting our holistic well-being. Erin is also someone who consistently shows up to every athletic game she can watch on campus and unconditionally cheers on her fellow Hoyas.
Eliza Buerk, Davidson Women’s Basketball
Eliza reached out to AFH U so that she could plan an event with Dream on 3 and the Davidson Women’s Basketball team. She spearheaded the planning and preparation for this experience which will take place on December 8 at their game against High Point. The team hosted families and showing them around the arena and honoring them at halftime. Eliza was at the center of the planning and it could not have been put together without her hard work and passion.
Zion Walters, Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball
For the entire first semester of the school year, Zion attended the Harland Boys and Girls Club weekly to hang out with the kids. In the month of December, she worked tirelessly to help the kids choreograph a dance to perform at their Holiday Party. She worked with the kids for over a month to get the dance perfect to perform in front of all of the staff, kids, and families at the club.
Ashanti Turner, Bowie State Track & Field
Ashanti helped plan and execute getting volunteers for a Martin Luther King Day event on Bowie State’s campus. As SAAC President, Ashanti rallied student-athletes from various teams on campus to work in conjunction with the Nutrition Lounge (BSU food pantry) and RISE Against Hunger to package up 20,000 meals for MLK Day of Service.
Ckelby Givens, Southern Football
Ckelby was eager to join the mental health panel focused on Black history to discuss his upbringing experiences and the absence of discussions aimed at dismantling stigma within his community. His goal is to alter that narrative on the Southern University campus.
Kai Wince, Southern Women’s Tennis
Kai Wince was eager to give back to the community and promote physical fitness for youth. During her last school visit at Progress Elementary, she made exercise fun through a series of activities. “We represented the tennis team at Progress Elementary by volunteering with a kindergarten PE class. We did exercises and fun active games with the kids. As African American athletes we think it’s important for the next generation to have role models that support healthy and active living as well as promoting a wide selection of sports. “
-Kai Wince
Rosie Deegan, Davidson Women’s Basketball
Rosie has been extremely active in the Davidson community this semester. Not only did she participate in March’s Mental Health U Panel series that focused on mental health in female athletes but she has been going twice a week to the Ada Jenkins Center. Each week, since March, Rosie has gone into the center twice a week to tutor and mentor two students at the club. Her time and commitment to mentoring the youth in Davidson, NC has been instrumental in the development of the children at Ada Jenkins.
AFH U Team of the Year Nominees
Davidson College Field Hockey
In the fall, Davidson Field Hockey regularly visited Continuing the Mission, an organization that trains dogs for veterans. They went 3-4 times a week to help with the animals and spend time training and playing with the puppies. Their consistent service with the organization has been a tremendous help by exposing the dogs to different scenarios and aspects of life so that they make great partners to the veterans they will be adopted to.
Southern University Bowling
Reigning SWAC Champs, Southern Bowling has been a force not only on the lanes but in the community. They kicked off their season prioritizing service. Including 9/11 Day of Service events, Southern Bowling played a huge impact on the 2023 AFH BR Serves initiative. The team participated in food sorting with BR Food Bank, a school visit to Louisiana Key Academy, and a OLOL Children’s Hospital visit.
Davidson Women’s Basketball
The Davidson Women’s Basketball team hosted Dream on 3 for a fun Dreamers Day during their game against High Point. The women on the team spent the day hosting children and their families who are living with life altering conditions. Not only did the kids get to spend time with the team but they received swag from Davidson College along with being honored at half-time in front of all of the fans and players at the arena. At the conclusion of the game the kids and their families were able to get autographs and pictures with all of the players.
Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball
The Clark Atlanta Women’s Basketball team hosted 15 children from the Harland Boys and Girls Club along with three chaperones and gave them a “day in the life” experience. Women’s Basketball along with the Spirit Booster Club showed the kids what a day in the life of a CAU student-athlete is like. The kids from the club were able to spend time with the student-athletes and get to know them and ask questions about what being a collegiate athlete is like. They also spent the game with the Spirit Boosters who showed them different cheers and encouraged them to engage with fans and have fun!
Howard Women’s Lacrosse
Throughout the spring semester, Howard Women’s Lacrosse visited DCPCS – Brightwood campus to conduct CHAMPS sessions. They helped with four sessions with 2nd and 4th graders to discuss the words of month: Courage and Honesty. The consistent visits were invaluable to the children at the school and the women on the team have attended with such excitement and commitment.
LSU Track & Field
Throughout March, LSU Track & Field dedicated their efforts to serving youth. They spent time visiting patients at OLOL Children’s Hospital and volunteering as buddies at The Miracle League, an inclusive baseball league for youth with disabilities.
Southern Volleyball
Southern Volleyball volunteered at Jags on the Bluff, a community-wide field day held on their campus. Student-athletes actively engaged with youth by facilitating stations, sharing their college experience, and leading them through a game of volleyball.