By Jennifer Howard
Teammate, classmate, best mate: These words describe Mekaila Qualls. The 19-year-old guard for the Daytona State women’s basketball team is a 2011 Who’s Who among students in American Universities & Colleges recipient, honor’s diploma graduate with a GPA of 3.5 and winner of the Sandy Miller award. Qualls is a real-life triple double. In basketball, a triple double is not easy to accomplish. It is when a player records double-digit values for three statistical categories.
This sophomore from Pensacola, Florida, is the leading scorer, rebounder and led the Lady Falcons in block shots this season, which helped them advance to the National Junior College Athletic Association District VIII Conference in March. Qualls is the co-captain of the Community Service Leadership Committee, an organization created in 2003. Its goal is reach out to various nonprofit agencyies in Volusia County. Members of the committee consist of one freshman and one sophomore from each sport’s team. The CSLC’s mission is to provide community service, help raise funds for nonprofit organizations in the area and act as ambassadors of the DSC Athletics Department.
Christena Hamilton, assistant coach for women’s basketball said, “She has represented this team and committee throughout the year with class and diligence,” Hamilton said. “I am proud of her to have embraced community service projects such as the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, as well as volunteering for college-hosted events such as the Volusia Honor Air Pre-Flight, and the Taste of the 24 shows her true commitment to public service,”
Other CSLC activities she has been involved with include the Black & White Disability Awareness home basketball game, softball clinics, home baseball game honoring local veterans, the Junior Falcon Reading Program and the breast cancer survivor and sophomore recognition home game for men’s and women’s basketball teams.
April 22, the CSLC hosted a sports day challenge event for the Association for Retarded Citizens of Volusia. The purpose of this event was to create and promote positive interaction skills among the ARC clients and DSC student athletes. “It is very important to me to give back, especially to people with special needs,” said Qualls, who lost her brother to a rare and debilitating disease in 2006 when he was 11 years old.
“He was a joy to love and know, my brother,” Qualls said. Mack Qualls suffered from an inherited recessive genetic disorder linked to the X chromosome. Because of the way genetic inheritance works, only boys have the most severe form of this disease. The disorder leaves the body unable to break down big fat molecules, either ones the body makes itself or ones that enter the body through food. The fat molecules build up and clog up cells, and hurt nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. “We were told it was multiple sclerosis because of his gradual loss of body functions,” Qualls said. “The doctors never really came up with a precise diagnosis because of how rapidly he deteriorated. He is why I give so much time and love to these organizations. My brother never really complained about his life he just lived it. I hope to honor not only him but myself through service and good works.”
Qualls was selected as the 2011 FCSAA Sandy Miller Award recipient. This honor is presented to the top student-athlete in the sport of women’s basketball. The criteria: to achieve excellence in academics, community service and athletic talent. Qualls is the first Sandy Miller Award winner from DSC since the program began in 1998.
Qualls will graduate May 16 with a GPA of 3.5 leaving behind her teammates and best friends. Shanika Brooks, forward for the Lady Falcons said, “Mekaila is a true friend. She’ll put a smile on your face when you’re down and cry with you when you are sad. The world is full of phony people, but my girl is the real deal.”