A Team Assist: Women's Basketball Wins Community Engagement Award
4/8/2025 2:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Academic Services, General, Upstate Athletic Fund
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Across higher education, the term student-athlete is often viewed through a sports-first lens. But at USC Upstate, the experience is intentionally more holistic—an opportunity to grow as both a teammate and a community member. A model example: the USC Upstate women’s basketball team, recently named the University’s Community Engagement Program of the Year for their meaningful and consistent volunteer work in Spartanburg.
The honor was especially significant as it helped strengthen the relationship between athletics and academics. Women’s basketball became the first athletic program at Upstate to receive the distinction. The recognition followed months of consistent volunteer service at the Spartanburg Rescue Mission, a local shelter supporting unhoused individuals and families.
Beginning in June, the Spartans visited the shelter twice a week over the summer. When the season ramped up in the fall, they continued to serve weekly, with a dedicated group keeping the twice-weekly schedule going through January. Their service included everything from preparing and serving meals to building meaningful connections with residents—sharing conversations, playing games with children, and offering encouragement through their presence.
“It’s a big part of our program, a core principle,” said head coach Jason Williams. “We want to be a team that gets involved within the Spartanburg community and gives back.”
Williams noted that community service helps his players grow beyond the court: “They learn how to communicate with people in different life situations. They learn how to serve and be involved.”
For redshirt junior ZoraFray-Chinn, the experience left a lasting impression.
“One of the biggest things I learned was how a small act of kindness, whether it’s serving a meal or just having a conversation, can make a real difference in someone’s day,” she said. “Serving others together outside of basketball magnified how teamwork goes beyond just the game.”
Their time at the shelter made an impact far beyond the team, too. In one case, a resident who connected with a student-athlete was inspired to secure a job at the facility as part of their transition out of homelessness.
The award also marked a shift in how USC Upstate recognizes engagement across campus.
“This is our first time awarding athletics engagement,” said David Marlow, who directs Service Learning and Community Engagement at Upstate. “While the women’s basketball efforts weren’t tied to a course, they were deeply rooted in experiential learning and leadership.”
Coach Williams hopes the team continues to lead by example, on and off the court. “We want to be role models in whatever we do. I know there are kids in the area and at the mission that look up to us. You can see and feel it while you are with them.”
The hope is that this won’t be the last time athletics is recognized in USC Upstate’s end-of-year accolades. USC Upstate Director of Athletics and Vice Chancellor Matt Martin emphasized that the women’s basketball team is just one example of a broader department-wide commitment to service.
“All of our teams have a strong commitment to building our Spartanburg community,” Martin said. “They’re involved in everything from volunteering at elementary schools to supporting impactful initiatives like the rescue mission. We know this won’t be the last time one of our teams earns this honor.”
