JESSICA GAINES
OF SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, a senior on the
women’s tennis team from Sugar Land, Texas, has been has
been selected the SCAC Character & Community Female
Student-Athlete-of-the-Week for the week ending April 29, 2012.
Gaines is not only one of the leaders on the
Southwestern women's tennis team, but she also serves as the
Philanthropy Chair for her sorority (Delta Delta
Delta). Her responsibility in this role is to plan
and oversee their community service projects. She has put
together
fundraisers this year totaling $12,000 for St. Judes. Her
planning includes projects such as Delta Desserts (an all u
can eat dessert party) and their annual Letter Writing day
(sent out 50 letters to alum/friends/family requesting
donations for St. Judes).
Gaines has also participated in a fashion
show which brought awareness to eating disorders. This fall
she also put together a halftime event at a fall basketball
game which included other organizations on campus through
a Shopping Cart Parade. This event also doubled as a food
drive to help replenish one of the food pantries that serves
the Georgetown community in preparation for the Thanksgiving
and Christmas holidays. This project helped bring over 500
pounds of food to that food pantry.
Additional involvements for Gaines includes
promoting the game of tennis through her service in an after
school program, Quickstart, at the elementary schools here in
Georgetown. This program is a joint program with
the Georgetown Tennis Center and it introduces kids to the
game of tennis through skill development in a fun
way.
"Jessica's service to the community and to the game makes
her a great candidate for this recognition," said Southwestern head
coach Lester Sombito.