By Jennifer Howard<\/p>\n
Teammate, classmate, best mate: These words describe Mekaila Qualls. The 19-year-old guard for the Daytona State women\u2019s basketball team is a 2011 Who\u2019s Who among students in American Universities & Colleges recipient, honor\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s team. The CSLC\u2019s mission is to provide community service, help raise funds for nonprofit organizations in the area and act as ambassadors of the DSC Athletics Department.<\/p>\n
Christena Hamilton, assistant coach for women\u2019s basketball said, \u201cShe has represented this team and\u00a0committee throughout the year with class and diligence,\u201d Hamilton said. \u201cI am proud of her to have embraced community service projects such as the American Heart Association\u2019s 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,\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball teams.<\/p>\n
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. \u201cIt is very important to me to give back, especially to people with special needs,\u201d said Qualls, who lost her brother to a rare and debilitating disease in 2006 when he was 11 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a joy to love and know, my brother,\u201d 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. \u201cWe were told it was multiple sclerosis because of his gradual loss of body functions,\u201d Qualls said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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, \u201cMekaila is a true friend. She\u2019ll put a smile on your face when you\u2019re down and cry with you when you are sad. The world is full of phony people, but my girl is the real deal.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Jennifer Howard Teammate, classmate, best mate: These words describe Mekaila Qualls. The 19-year-old guard for the Daytona State women\u2019s basketball team is a 2011 Who\u2019s Who among students in American Universities & Colleges recipient, honor\u2019s diploma graduate with a GPA of 3.5 and winner of the Sandy Miller award. Continue reading DSC basketball player a real-life triple double<\/span>