Student-Athletes

A strong community nurtures confident leaders

Alliance grows with authenticity, impact and Black joy at the forefront

While she doesn’t think of herself as a natural born leader, Sophie Summers displays the type of self-awareness, authenticity and values that only the best leaders possess. As a volleyball player, co-president of the Black Student-Athlete Alliance (BSAA) and a young woman navigating her intersecting identities, Sophie is actively finding herself and growing her community.

“I think there’s a straight line, for me, from knowing who I am and being confident to feeling like I’m supported and in a community. My dad saw that I was both passionate and had a lot to say from a very young age. He always encouraged me to do the things I do with excellence.”

That’s why Summers chose the University of Washington and soon after found herself co-leading the BSAA. “UW had everything I wanted. It was just a really special culture that doesn’t exist in the other places I looked at. From the coaching staff to our athletic admin to our academic advisers, everyone works in such a beautiful, family-style way to support their student-athletes. I felt like no matter what I chose to pursue with my major or in my life that I was going to be supported.”

Sophie joined the BSAA after the upswelling of social change in the summer of 2020. “I felt really called to action to be a part of the Black community and contribute in a way that was both authentic to me and felt like
I was doing something tangible.”

As co-President alongside fellow student-athlete Lexi Griggsby, Sophie has helped organize several successful events in the past year, but what she really looks forward to are the alliance meetings and occasional Pictionary games with her peers.

BSAA members pose with Dubs Up“It’s just time for us to spend together and to laugh and be joyous. That’s one of our main principles — the idea of cultivating Black joy, because there’s a lot of Black student-athlete struggle,” says Sophie. “We want to see people smile and we want to take some of the pressure off of Black student-athletes — to empower them and give them a place to feel safe.”

“BSAA gives our student-athletes and myself the confidence to know who you are, to use your resources, to persevere, to get better, to feel safe, to feel like you can go for it.”

When asked to reflect on the support she’s received, Sophie shares that “Thank you comes to mind, but it falls short of what donations and scholarships do for student-athletes … You’re helping people achieve their dreams and achieve lifelong success, setting them up to not just be great athletes but amazing people.”

Go Huskies!

RECOMMENDED STORIES

Programs and More

Support the world-changing potential of today’s Washington women

Title IX opened the door to equity for women in athletics, education and life. Decade by decade, championship after championship, win or lose, the UW’s female student-athletes have made us proud. Now, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of this...


Read Story

Student-Athletes

A big heart reaps big rewards

Faced with his grandfather’s ALS diagnosis, UW Men’s Soccer midfielder Lucas Meek finds resilience and a way to make a difference in his honor. Lucas Meek’s world turned upside down in 2020 when he discovered his grandfather was diagnosed with...


Read Story

Donors and Difference-Makers

The benevolence of a loyal Husky family lives on in...

George and Marlene Zoffel spurred on future generations of energized donors and supporters. This charming love story began when George Zoffel and Marlene Jackson became high school sweethearts at West Seattle High School in the 1950s. From there they both...


Read Story

Programs and More

Travel abroad makes a big impression

Donor gifts fund study-abroad program, inspiring student-athletes like Football’s Rome Odunze. It’s becoming a familiar sight: Rome Odunze catching touchdown passes in spectacular ways on the Football field. But when he “opened his heart” to the unfamiliar, he found new...


Read Story

Alumni

An unforgettable Husky experience

Husky Football alum and Big W Club member Kai Bynum recalls the positive influence the UW had on his life. Growing up in Olympia, Washington, Kai Bynum always had an affinity for the University of Washington and knew it was...


Read Story

Programs and More

Your impact: a year of athletic and academic success —...

Your generosity propels our student-athletes to excellence in sports, in academics and in life. Whether it’s taking pressure off the cost of tuition, giving them the opportunity to travel abroad or supporting their efforts to make a difference in the...


Read Story

Coaches and Staff

Head coaches impress as best in their field

Your support helps us hire the nation’s best coaches. Meet our newest Huskies who are ready to lead Baseball and Men’s Tennis to the top. Jason Kelly Baseball Head Coach Jason Kelly has built his career around the development of...


Read Story

Donors and Difference-Makers

Thank you to our generous 2021-22 donors and volunteers!

We are grateful to each and every Husky fan who donates to support the education and future of Husky student-athletes. Those who make the most generous gifts earn special recognition and benefits. Thank you Tyee Club Champions Circle members This...


Read Story

Athletic Director's Letter

Our dedicated donors are uniquely Washington

You are extraordinary. As a donor who champions Husky student-athletes — in good times and hard times, in the ever-evolving world of intercollegiate athletics — you understand the crucial role you play in the lifelong development of these extraordinary young...


Read Story