Kristen Long Nominated for Allstate WBCA Good Works Team
INDIANAPOLIS – Wayne State University women's basketball senior Kristen Long (Durand, Mich.) was selected as the WSU nominee for the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) and Allstate Good Works Team®. For four years, the WBCA and Allstate have recognized college women's basketball student-athletes' outstanding contributions in volunteerism and civic involvement.
Long is a finalist out of 32 student-athletes from NCAA Division II and III, and NAIA institutions, and one of three from the GLIAC. Only five from this division will be selected as part of the Good Works Team®; which will be announced in February.
The senior co-captain has been the GLIAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) president for two years, which helps raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and also serves as WSU's SAAC co-president for the third straight year.
She created the "blankets for seniors" program as a freshman; which has launched a community outreach program in making blankets for the homeless and nursing homes, as well as taking part in a Basic Needs Drive the last three springs where 40,000 items were collected and distributed in Cass Park in Detroit.
Along with serving on Wayne State's campus, Long also participates in volunteerism within the city of Detroit. She actively visits students at the Woodbridge Community Youth Center where she has been an academic tutor the last four years. The senior has also been a two-time participant in the Belinda Sue Zoo Walk for ovarian cancer awareness.
Long is also an ambassador for the NCAA Step UP! program. This initiative was created to educate student-athletes on exercising leadership and to "step up" when a teammate or friend is engaged in potential harmful or dangerous situations.
The 5-6 guard has helped lead the Warriors to the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons, where WSU has recorded five NCAA wins in that time, which is tied for the most in the Midwest Region, as well as collecting the Warriors first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 2013. Long has logged over 1,742 minutes with appearances in 93 games making 18 starts, including five in the NCAA Tournament.
Taken from the WBCA, NABC and Allstate release:
Women's Basketball Coaches Association, National Association of Basketball Coaches and Allstate Announce Record 257 Nominees to Good Works Teams®
Fourth annual award honors college basketball student-athletes
who are making a positive impact in their communities
INDIANAPOLIS – Dec. 2, 2015 – The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Allstate Insurance Company today announced an all-time high 257 total nominees for the 2016 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams®. This distinguished award shines a spotlight on a select group of student-athletes who have shown dedication to community service and altruism in their communities.
In its fourth year, the Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams® recognize players at all levels of college basketball who have made outstanding contributions in the areas of volunteerism and civic involvement. From establishing nonprofits that provide youth with the necessary tools to become leaders of tomorrow, to raising awareness around pertinent issues that could save lives, these student-athletes exhibit impeccable leadership skills both on and off the court.
"The community service efforts from the nominees on the 2016 Allstate NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® are an inspiration to Allstate, our agents and our employees," said Thomas Clarkson, president of the west territory for Allstate Insurance Company and a member of the 2016 NABC and WBCA Good Works Teams® selection panels. "Allstate is honored to embark on another year of collaboration with the NABC and WBCA, and together recognize student-athletes for their unwavering commitment to making a difference."
The 103 WBCA nominees and the 154 NABC nominees were submitted by sports information directors and college basketball coaches across the country. From the nominations, special voting panels, headlined by former University of Tennessee basketball athlete, NCAA champion and WNBA legend Tamika Catchings, and former Duke University basketball athlete, two-time NCAA® champion and seven-time NBA All-Star Grant Hill, will select two 10-member teams comprised of five student-athletes from the NCAA Division I level and five student-athletes from Divisions II, III and the NAIA. The final roster of 20 award recipients will be unveiled in February.
"The Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® is a nationally recognized award that continues to honor an impressive group of student-athletes who strive to better our society through service efforts. The WBCA family of coaches celebrates all the women's and men's basketball student-athletes who demonstrate a respect for the power of sports coupled with the responsibility to give back to others," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "The WBCA is proud to partner with Allstate and commends the recognition of these remarkable student-athletes for their significant humanitarian contributions."
Members of the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team® will be recognized during the 2016 WBCA Convention and at the 2016 NCAA Women's Final Four® in Indianapolis, and will also participate in a local volunteer project. Members of the Allstate NABC Good Works Team® will be invited by Allstate, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, to the 2016 NABC Convention and 2016 NCAA Men's Final Four® in Houston, where they will participate in a community service project benefitting the city. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the WBCA, NABC and NCAA.
"Once again as we have a record number of nominees for the Allstate Good Works Teams, it's very evident that our men's and women's student-athletes in college basketball are unselfish and unwavering in their commitment to service," said Jim Haney, executive director of the NABC. "From global initiatives in third-world countries to feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless around their own communities, these young men and women are very deserving of the recognition that Allstate provides with this exemplary program."
In addition to Clarkson, Catchings and Hill, the 2016 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Team® selection panel members include: former college basketball student-athletes Alana Beard (Duke University), and Clark Kellogg (Ohio State University / CBS Sports); media members Carolyn Peck (ESPN), LaChina Robinson (ESPN/FOX), Seth Davis (Sports Illustrated/CBS) and Dana O'Neil (ESPN); former head coaches Marsha Sharp (Texas Tech University), Nell Fortner (Auburn University), Bobby Cremins (Georgia Institute of Tech/College of Charleston) and Seth Greenberg (Virginia Tech University); and current college basketball coach Coquese Washington (Penn State University).
Since 2008, Allstate has partnered with the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) as a 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.