SEC announces Women's Basketball Community Service Team

Birmingham, Ala. - 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 women's basketball for the 2016-17 season.

This marks the 19th year for the SEC Community Service Team for women's basketball as well as for men's basketball. 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.

Ashley Williams • Alabama
Junior • Forward • Covington, Ga.
Participated in the Walk to Remember for Alzheimer's awareness ... helped with several Habitat for Humanity builds ... took part in the National Salute to veterans ... visited with residents of Capstone Village retirement home ... assisted with the Project Angel Tree pickup party ... visited elementary schools as part of the team's annual 5th Grade Fastbreak program ... played with Tuscaloosa children at the athletic department's annual Halloween Extravaganza.

Devin Cosper • Arkansas
Junior • Guard • Coffeyville, Kansas
Helped with Operation Baton Rouge - A relief event dedicated to collecting, sending and distributing aid in the form of bottled water, youth clothing, bedding and school supplies to Baton Rouge after flooding occurred in our SEC partner's city... also assisted with Project Unify - A community service engagement program that the women's basketball team introduced to raise awareness and to initiate dialogue on important societal issues. Project Unify will engage members of the community and law enforcement, to strengthen mutual trust, respect and understanding. The events included a meet and greet in the gardens area at home football games and a veteran's appreciation breakfast honored those who served and their families.

Katie Frerking • Auburn
Senior • Forward/Guard • Johns Creek, Ga.
Compassion International - adopting a child from Africa, pledging money each month as well as communicationing via letters ... works with Bravehearts - is a "buddy" to a young man in the program, consistent communication, he attends all of Auburn's games, etc.; work with Miracle League where he plays games ... volunteers at Tallapoosa Girl's Ranch - painting, light construction, cleaning ... Assists with Hosanna Home - babysitting for single mom's ... helps with End Child Hunger Backpack Stuffing with Jason Dufner Foundation ... visited Storybrook Farms - horse ranch for disabled kids ... works with Boykin Center - daycare, visits with team and Christmas gift shopping for the babies ... participated in the City of Auburn Downtown Trick or Treat.

Brooke Copeland • Florida
Junior • Guard/Forward • Cleveland, Tenn.
Holds a board position in Gainesville at GiGi's Playhouse, which is a Down Syndrome Achievement Center that provides no-fee programs and positive support to children and adults with Down syndrome ... visited Thailand in May of 2016 on a mission trip ... made countless visits to Shands Pediatrics wards ... attends a Special Needs Prom every year ... reads to children in local elementary schools ... spends countless hours with Caleb's Pitch, a nonprofit organization founded to honor the inspirational spirit of Caleb Jacobbe. It is dedicated to creating positive experiences and enhancing quality of life for children and their families confronting serious childhood illnesses ... is a 'treatment buddy' for ill children ... mentors Anna Rose, whom Brooke first met during a visit to Shands Hospital - Anna Rose was a 10-year-old struggling to overcome cancer.

Mackenzie Engram • Georgia
Junior • Forward • Powder Springs, Ga.
Has helped raise money to purchase unassembled bicycles, assembled them, and then delivered them to Athens area children around the Holidays ... also collect toiletries at each hotel that they visit throughout the year to donate to Project Safe, an organization that assists victims of sexual violence ... volunteers in the Annual Ath-Half Marathon Race and Special Olympics at UGA ... is involved in the "End It" Movement bringing light to human trafficking and modern day slavery ... has also used her time to collect canned food for the Hunger Bowl to benefit the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.

Alyssa Rice • Kentucky
Junior • Center • Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Has been very active in the Lexington community since arriving on campus with over 100 hours of community service ... one of her major projects was working as a volunteer at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes camp last summer where she was a hustle leader ... on top of helping pack and deliver food for God's Pantry Food Bank in Lexington, Rice has volunteered at One Parent Scholar Home spending time with children as part of their day care service ... was a Breakfast with Santa volunteer and hung out with residents at the Brookdale Richmond Place nursing home ... also helped this fall with a flood relief drive for Louisiana residents ... has spent time visiting patients at the UK Children's Hospital.

Rina Hill • LSU
Senior • Guard • Nagoya-Shi, Japan
With her teammates, assisted with multiple flood relief opportunities in Baton Rouge, such as visiting neighborhoods and passing out water to residents as well as assisting with demolition at homes and churches in the area ... also assisted students in moving into their dorm rooms on campus at the start of the semester ... participated in the school visit with her teammates during the 2016 SEC Tournament in Jacksonville, Fla ... helped package over 2500 meals in just two hours at the local Baton Rouge Food Bank last April ... also chooses to participate in the BOOzar on campus, a trick-or-treat event for children ... also consistent participant in the Walk/Run to Remember for Alzheimer's Disease awareness.

Shandricka Sessom • Ole Miss
Junior • Guard • Byhalia, Miss.
Participated in Move Mississippi - an initiative to get youth in Mississippi moving and doing physical activity ... with the women's basketball team has adopted a local family for the holiday season and have also spent time at Batson Children's Hospital interacting with patients ... been chosen as a guest speaker for her middle school athletic banquet and also with the Sunflower Project empowering young girls.

Blair Schaefer • Mississippi State
Junior • Guard • Starkville, Miss.
Has cheered runners on in the Autism Speaks 5K Fun Run and for the second straight year helped with the T.K. Martin Center Fun Run that supports MSU's T.K. Martin Center for children with special needs ... has also participated in reading initiatives Reading Railroad and Bully's Book Blitz ... spent time with children and led games at Travis Outlaw Day the past three years, and she joined her teammates in judging the talent show for Camp Jigsaw, a camp at MSU for youth with autism ... also served at the Miss MSU Colleges Against Cancer 5K and also served the Starkville School District by participating in Walk To School Day, Henderson Elementary's Perfect Attendance/Behavior Bash and Breakfast of Champions ... has also been a participant in Bully's Kid's Club nights and Starkville Step Up For Kids Day ... also volunteered at the region Special Olympics hosted at MSU.

Lianna Doty • Missouri
Senior • Guard • St. Louis, Mo.
On a weekly basis, Doty makes sure to stop by the Girls and Boys Club and spend time with the kids, whether it's playing some pick up or helping them homework ... teaches Sunday School at least twice per month with exception of the conference season ... volunteers at the Granny House at least twice per week depending on Mizzou's travel schedule ... other organizations/events she's involved with this past academic year include Read a Thon Prize Day, Mizzou Moves, National Student Athlete Day, Douglas Park Basketball Clinics, International Student Luncheon, Starlight Reading with students, Tiger Paws, B&G Club Hoops for a Cause, Race for the Cure, Special Olympics events and SEC Timeout in the Community.

Alaina Coates • South Carolina
Senior • Center • Irmo, S.C.
Enjoys working with area youth, reading and speaking to local elementary schools ... Spent time visiting patients at local medical facilities, including Dorn VA Hospital veterans living center ... Volunteered at Meals on Wheels.

Jordan Reynolds • Tennessee
Senior • Guard • Portland, Ore.
Member of the University of Tennessee Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, assisting in planning of community service events by UT student-athletes...Participated in Hoops for Hope, bringing visibility to the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee...Took part in One Unforgettable Night dance event and Cole's Launch paper airplane contest with East Tennessee Children's Hospital and also volunteered at Fantasy of Trees Christmas event...Participated in Voloween, a Halloween event in which student-athletes host children in costume for an evening of games and treats at UT's Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex.

Alyssa Michalke • Texas A&M
Senior • Guard • Schulenburg, Texas
Helped at the 5k run at the Ste. Genevieve (Mo.) Fair over the summer ... Volunteered for at the Ste. Genevieve (Mo.) Catholic Church, helping their picnic and fundraiser ... Participated in Sports for Kids, an organization that encourages involvement in youth sports throughout Bryan-College Station ... Loaded groceries, helped customers and assisted with computer software at the Schulenburg Area Food Pantry ... Along with the rest of her team, visited patients at Texas Children's Hospital and helped sort items at the Brazos Valley Food Bank ... Was the first female to be named Commander of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets in its 140-year history during the 2015-16 school year ... Was a member of the Ross Volunteers, the official honor guard of the governor of Texas, which performs ceremonial duties such as escorting distinguished guests, and firing a 21-gun volley at events that honor fallen Aggies

Minta Spears • Vanderbilt
Senior • Guard • Bullard, Texas
Served meals at Luke 14:12, a non‐profit that provides meals to the homeless and hungry ... volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Nashville ... orchestrated the WBB's team initiative to buy a family in Nashville new school shoes through Soles4Souls ... helped collect water for the South Carolina flood relief drive ... helped collect clothes, money, and supplies for the Flood Relief Drive for the Louisiana flood ... took part in Hands on Nashville service day ... helped plan the Nashville‐wide FCA at Vanderbilt ... traveled to Uganda in May 2013 and May 2014 where group raised money for the students' educations, basketball court, tennis court, and soccer goals. Also held a sports tournament for children ... spoke at local high schools at home in Texas about college experience and playing collegiate basketball.