Berlin Student Nominated for National Community Service Award

Berlin resident Courtney Trzasko of the Drew University women’s basketball team has been named one of 32 nominees from NCAA Divisions II, III and the NAIA for the Allstate Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Good Works Team®.

The award spotlights 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 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.

“Courtney provides unique leadership qualities with an example of selfless giving, hard work and positive attitude,” said Drew head coach Brittany Gaetano. “She’s a competitor, even at practice. When she speaks, it’s respected because of how she handles herself on the court, and how she achieves balance with community service and excellent grades in class.”

The junior guard is a Drew Civic Scholar has completed more than 100 community service hours each year.

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Courtney works with Drew Unified, a program that puts college athletes on the same field as athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities; volunteers at Furniture Assist, an organization that provides free apartment furnishings to people in need and helped lead a group of Drew University students build a home with Habitat for Humanity. Courtney, a business studies major, also maintains a 3.93 grade point average and was named to the Landmark Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll.

Courtney averaged 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game last season, and was second from beyond the arc with 49 triples last winter. Starting in all of Drew’s 25 games, she hit her career-high of 24 points against. Goucher on Jan. 24 on 7-of-11 three-point shooting. Those seven 3-pointers made against Goucher are the third most in a single game in Drew women’s basketball history.

While at Berlin High School, Courtney was a First Team All-Central Connecticut College Conference selection in her senior year. The 2013 BHS graduate also was a CCC Academic All-Conference honoree, and named MVP of the CCC Tournament in her junior year, served as the class treasurer, received High Honors, a member of the National Honors Society and recipient of the Superintendent’s award.

The 103 WBCA 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.

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. Allstate is an official corporate partner of the WBCA, NABC and NCAA.

Contributed photo: Courtney Trzasko.