Indianapolis, IN --- Senior Michel'le St. Pierre (Seekonk, MA) has been chosen as an NCAA Division III representative on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Good Works Team as announced by WBCA publicist Jack Watford.
In its second year, the Good Works Team is the preeminent community service honor recognizes players who have made a commitment to improving their communities and the lives of others. The WBCA Good Works Team is comprised of 10 student-athletes: five from Division I and five from Divisions II, III and the NAIA. Final team rosters were chosen by prestigious voting panels comprised of former coaches, student-athletes and media members.
St. Pierre was one of two Division III student-athletes tabbed to the squad as she was joined by senior Amy Loya (Bethel, CT) of Union and she was the only member picked from a school from a New England institution. There were 32 nominees from Divisions II, III and the NAIA submitted by women's basketball coaches and sports information directors from around the nation.
Honorees of the WBCA Good Works Team are given an all-expense paid trip to the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship in Nashville as special guests while also being officially recognized both at the 2014 WBCA Convention and during the Final Four.
"Michel'le exemplifies this award with all the 'Good Works' she does on and off campus by willingly volunteering for any community service project," said Worcester State head women's basketball coach Karen Tessmer. "She has a gift with kids and a real heart and passion to help others out, especially those with medical issues or those who are less fortunate."
On campus, St. Pierre has been an active member in Student Athletes Advisory Committee (SAAC) and has been instrumental in the on-campus involvement with the Special Olympics. In addition to partaking in numerous team community service projects, she took the lead with the women's basketball team's participation last semester with TeamIMPACT and a five-year old "teammate" who had been battling leukemia.
Off campus, St. Pierre went out of her way to help support a former women's basketball camp attendee who recently had been diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer and who had lost her leg, by visiting her at the hospital, supporting her during chemotherapy treatments and connecting on social media.
St. Pierre proudly serves in the US Army National Guard as a paratrooper and has been activated for five natural disasters which have included providing emergency services, most notably during the surrounding events of the Boston Marathon bombing.
In addition to serving as one of the women's basketball team's three captains, St. Pierre balances her commitments, works as an assistant in the department's equipment room, another part-time job all while trying to attain her degree in Criminal Justice.
The 10 student-athletes who are being honored by the WCBA on the Good Work's Team will also participate in a local community project benefiting the city of Nashville.
The National Basketball Coaches Association (NABC) also recognized 10 men's student-athletes in a similar fashion on the Allstate NABC Good Works Team. Division III honorees included senior Grant Neil (Holland, MI) of Hope and junior Peter Kazikas (Amagansett, NY) of Hamilton.
2014 WCBA and NABC Good Works Team Release
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