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UCF's Sonnisha Williams Earns C-USA Spirit of Service Award

April 4, 2012

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By Jenna Marina
UCFAthletics.com

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF women's track and field junior Sonnisha Williams was one of 12 league student-athletes to receive the Conference USA Winter Spirit of Service award Wednesday. The honor is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league's student-athletes, based upon significant community service, good academic standing and participation in their elected sport.

Williams is a two-time USTFCCCA indoor All-American in the long jump and this year's C-USA indoor long jump champion. She helped UCF to its best finish in program history (eighth place) at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships in March with her ninth-place finish in the event. The Jacksonville, Fla., native currently holds the school and freshman long jump records in both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

In addition to her outstanding athletic resume, Williams was appointed to the Athletic Director's Captains Council by head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert. As a member, she is one of a select group of student-athletes who attend monthly meetings to foster their leadership skills. As a sports and exercise science major, she is also a two-time member of the C-USA Academic Honor Roll.

Williams is active in a variety of outreach events, including charitable organizations such as Miracle League, which helps children with disabilities build self-worth by pairing them with volunteers to play a game of baseball, and Autism Speaks. The Jacksonville, Fla., native also served as a Teacher for the Day at Jackson Heights Middle School.

The Spirit of Service award is presented three times throughout the season, with today's honorees representing Conference USA's winter sports: men's and women's basketball, women's swimming and men's and women's indoor track and field. UCF women's soccer standout Nicolette Radovcic was recognized with the honor in the fall.