CalHOPE Courage Award Winners (Apr. 19)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Three California collegiate student-athletes - Kelsey Blaylock, a member of the Chico State University women's golf team, Johnny Buchanan, a volleyball player at The Master's University in Santa Clarita, and Alisha Wilson, a member of both the women's basketball and track and field teams for the Academy of Art University in San Francisco - have been selected as recipients of the CalHOPE Courage Award for April.

The CalHOPE Courage Award honors student-athletes at California colleges and universities each month for overcoming the stress, anxiety, and mental trauma associated with personal hardships, injury, or life circumstances, particularly during the COVID-19 public health emergency. It is presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), in association with The Associated Press (AP) and CalHOPE, a crisis counseling and support resource for communities impacted by public health emergencies or natural disasters, operated by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Stories of all honorees are available at CalHOPECourageAward.com and via social media on Twitter and Instagram at @CalHOPE_Courage. 
 
"CalHOPE is honored to recognize student-athletes throughout the state who, despite setbacks, have overcome life's challenges to continue to perform their best as both scholars and athletes," said Dr. Jim Kooler, Behavioral Health Special Consultant for DHCS. "CalHOPE's purpose is to build community resiliency and help people recover from disasters through free outreach, crisis counseling, and support services. COVID-19 has increased the stress, anxiety, and isolation athletes have experienced, and highlighting these stories of courage will inspire us all."  

Alisha Wilson, a freshman starting forward/center for the Academy of Art University women's basketball team and a sprinter on the track & field team, faced many obstacles before she arrived at the San Francisco campus. As a child, she exemplified strength and perseverance while navigating the foster care system and exposure to gang violence. Balancing school and athletics at Bonita High School was not easy, as Wilson dealt with the mental trauma of her childhood and frequently relocated as a ward of the state. She used her background as motivation and sports as an outlet. In her final year as a varsity basketball and track and field student-athlete with Bonita in 2020-21, Wilson was named Palomares League Most Valuable Player on the basketball court and guided the Bearcats to a league title.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, her opportunities to participate in recruiting trips and access to in-person social and emotional support were limited. However, Wilson was determined to not allow isolation and the instability of her home environment to deter her from becoming a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) qualifier. With additional support and guidance from her high school family, Wilson was able to finish high school and focus on her transition to college, where she is currently majoring in Communications and Media Technologies.  On the basketball court, she scored 9.2 points per game and led the team with a .466 field goal percentage as well as 10.3 rebounds per game, helping the Urban Knights to an 18-11 record and a third-place regular season finish in the Pacific West Conference. On the track, she competed in the 200-meter and 400-meter events, setting personal bests of 25.38 and 55.57, respectively.

"As a first-generation college student, my goal is to be a role model for my siblings and for other youth," Wilson said. "I'm very appreciative of the support my family has given me along the way. I was motivated to finish high school and become a student-athlete at the collegiate level. I hope my success can inspire someone else to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams."

Sports information directors at all colleges and universities in California are encouraged to nominate deserving intercollegiate student-athletes through April 2023 at CalHOPECourageAward.com. The honorees will be selected by a panel of writers, editors, and sports information directors from CoSIDA and AP.  Fans can learn more and engage on social media on Twitter and Instagram at @CalHOPE_Courage. 
 
ABOUT CalHOPE
CalHOPE is a multi-level campaign to connect people with vital mental health and wellness resources and information to help them find their way during these difficult times. CalHOPE is a federally supported effort (Federal Emergency Management Administration and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) that offers critical behavioral health crisis counseling programs to states and Tribes after a federal declaration of emergency. CalHOPE uses a public health approach that's focused on strength-based strategies of building resiliency and connecting people to the supports they need. CalHOPE resources may be accessed by calling the program's warm line at (833) 317-HOPE (4673) or by visiting www.calhope.org.
 
ABOUT COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTORS OF AMERICA (COSIDA)
CoSIDA was founded in 1957 and is a 3,000-plus member national organization comprised of the sports public relations, media relations, and communications/information professionals of all levels of collegiate athletics in the United States and Canada. The organization is the second oldest management association in intercollegiate athletics. For more than 60 years, CoSIDA has recognized student-athletes as part of its Academic All-America awards program. Approximately 5,000 student-athletes are recognized each year for their excellence in the classroom and in competition. To learn more, visit cosida.com.
 
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP)
The AP is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, The AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from The AP. For more, visit www.ap.org.